New York attorney general issues warning about potential AirTag misuse

AppleInsider

The New York attorney general has issued a warning about the potential malicious use of Apple's AirTag trackers, and gave some safety recommendations to consumers.

Apple AirTag

Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday issued a consumer alert to "protect New Yorkers from bad actors using Apple AirTags to track individuals' locations and their belongings for harmful purposes."

"Across the country, Apple AirTags are being misused to track people and their belongings to cause harm," said James. "I urge all New Yorkers to pay close attention to their belongings and follow the tips provided by my office to stay safe."

There have been concerning reports of bad actors using Apple AirTags to track people's locations and personal belongings, and we're issuing guidance to help New Yorkers stay safe.

Tracking people without their awareness is a serious crime, and we won't tolerate it.

-- NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG)

February 16, 2022

In addition to the warning, and in difference from most other warnings from government officials, James's office also gave safety tips to consumers. They include being aware of "unfamiliar beeping," watching for safety notifications on iPhones, and checking for updated guidance from Apple.

Reports of AirTags misuse have been ticking up since the tracker's release in 2021. While AirTags have been used to deter theft and find missing items, there have been high-profile instances of the Apple tracking devices being used for stalking and other malicious purposes.

Compared to other tracking devices, AirTags have anti-stalking features that make it harder for them to be misused. While competitors like Tile and widely available GPS trackers don't have built-in safety mechanisms, AirTag's security features have led to the arrest of stalkers -- and are likely responsible for increased reports of stalking.

In response to the potential for misuse, Apple earlier in February announced a slate of changes aimed at cutting down on stalking or crime. That includes the tweaking of existing safety mechanisms and new features that could make finding an unwanted AirTag easier for iPhone owners.

Read on AppleInsider

xed

LOL Tile would kill for this publicity. Around for almost a decade before the AirTag and no ever gave a shit about their "bad actors".

anantksundaram

This will invite negative reactions from the usual band of suspects, but so be it: Apple will either pull this product in the next few months, or modify protocols for its use. This is a given, since Apple’s stance on privacy as strategy demands it. 

Comparisons to other makers of similar items are utterly irrelevant. None of them claims to be a paragon of privacy. 

igorsky

anantksundaram said:

Apple will either pull this product in the next few months...

This is asinine.  If companies started pulling every product that a-holes misuse for nefarious purposes then we'd be back to playing with sticks and hunting for our own food with homemade spears.

edited February 2022

xed

igorsky said:

anantksundaram said:

Apple will either pull this product in the next few months...

This is asinine.  If companies started pulling every product that a-holes misuse for nefarious purposes then we'd be back to playing with sticks and hunting for our own food with homemade spears.

And how many reports of thieves targeting iPod, iPhone and iPad users have we seen over the years, especially out of New York. I have yet to see Apple stop selling their iDevices because of articles about their theft are more appealing than articles about theft of other devices.

xed

anantksundaram said:

This will invite negative reactions from the usual band of suspects, but so be it: Apple will either pull this product in the next few months, or modify protocols for its use. This is a given, since Apple’s stance on privacy as strategy demands it. 

Comparisons to other makers of similar items are utterly irrelevant. None of them claims to be a paragon of privacy. 

Your comment reminds me of the marketing and legal teams for the Tucker Torpedo that were against safety features like the seat belts, padded dashboard, and windshield with shatterproof glass that could pop out in a collusion. All safety measures to protect occupants, but these "so-called experts" felt that showing that an automobile had safety features would be an indication that it was unsafe. Like you, I'm sure they felt like they were doing the right thing for Tucker but it's pretty lame logic in the face of reality.

Of course, Tucker didn't survive as car company, but that's for different reasons, but all their safety features and a lot more have become a standard over the decades. Apple is simply leading the way and will continue to improve. If you think the AirTag is going to crumble like the Tucker Torpedo then we have very different views about reality.

edited February 2022

80025

Just about everything and anything is subject to potential misuse. Let's not awfulize this, Letty.

edited February 2022

lkrupp

anantksundaram said:

This will invite negative reactions from the usual band of suspects, but so be it: Apple will either pull this product in the next few months, or modify protocols for its use. This is a given, since Apple’s stance on privacy as strategy demands it. 

Comparisons to other makers of similar items are utterly irrelevant. None of them claims to be a paragon of privacy. 

Well then maybe Apple should stop declaring itself to be a paragon of privacy and just say, “Hey user, you’re on your own with our products, just like everybody else." Would that satisfy you?

anantksundaram

lkrupp said:

anantksundaram said:

This will invite negative reactions from the usual band of suspects, but so be it: Apple will either pull this product in the next few months, or modify protocols for its use. This is a given, since Apple’s stance on privacy as strategy demands it. 

Comparisons to other makers of similar items are utterly irrelevant. None of them claims to be a paragon of privacy. 

Well then maybe Apple should stop declaring itself to be a paragon of privacy and just say, “Hey user, you’re on your own with our products, just like everybody else." Would that satisfy you?

Nope. The opposite.

lkrupp

When will the first class action lawsuit be filed? Evil Apple completely disregards the safety of their customers. You know it’s coming. Tort lawyers are preparing their filings as we post.

badmonk

anantksundaram said:

This will invite negative reactions from the usual band of suspects, but so be it: Apple will either pull this product in the next few months, or modify protocols for its use. This is a given, since Apple’s stance on privacy as strategy demands it. 

Comparisons to other makers of similar items are utterly irrelevant. None of them claims to be a paragon of privacy. 

Not sure your logic follows, since stalking is a crime and attention has been brought to this issue.  The comments of the companies are irrelevant— just their use and attention to the prevention of stalking.

anoylla

«A woman was able to discover an AirTag in her vehicle's trailer hitch thanks to Apple's anti-stalking features, leading to a man's arrest.»

verne arase

anantksundaram said:

This will invite negative reactions from the usual band of suspects, but so be it: Apple will either pull this product in the next few months, or modify protocols for its use. This is a given, since Apple’s stance on privacy as strategy demands it. 

Comparisons to other makers of similar items are utterly irrelevant. None of them claims to be a paragon of privacy. 

Snork ... good one.

Bad actors have used the telephone to advance criminal activities since its inception - let's ban all remote communications.

While we're at it, those mobile vehicles make escaping from crime scenes more effective - let's get rid of those too.

Apple as a company likes to insure the privacy of its users - it's a selling point of their devices.

Although they've made the best effect thus far to protect people from stalkers - forgive me if I haven't seen any competitors even make the effort - they aren't Apple's customers. Apple end-to-end encrypts iMessages, but still allow non-encrypted SMS messages from other users. They're not on a tear to convert the world to their privacy-centric point of view - they just want to protect their own customers (which they have to the best of their ability).

The New York AG should be castigated for singling out Apple who has done something about stalking, while ignoring competitors who have not.

Politics as usual, and a prime example of why politicians shouldn't be regulators.

edited February 2022

anoylla

  An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking  

 

edited February 2022