Apple sued by women who say AirTag is ‘weapon of choice of stalkers’

Apple has been sued by two ladies who stated its AirTag gadgets have made it simpler for his or her former companions and different stalkers to trace down victims.

In a proposed class motion filed on Monday in San Francisco federal court docket, the ladies stated Apple has been unable to guard folks from undesirable trafficking by means of AirTag since launching what it referred to as the “stalker proof” machine in April 2021.

Beginning at $29, AirTags are 1-1/4 inches in diameter, and supposed to be slipped into or hooked up to keys, wallets, backpacks and different objects so folks can discover them when they're misplaced.

However privateness specialists and regulation enforcement have stated some folks use Airtags for legal or malicious functions.

The plaintiffs referred to as AirTag “the weapon of selection of stalkers and abusers,” and stated it has been linked to murders this 12 months of ladies from Akron, Ohio, and Indianapolis.

The ladies stated Apple has been unable to guard folks from undesirable trafficking by means of AirTag since launching what it referred to as the “stalker proof” machine in April 2021.

Christopher Sadowski

Monday’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for US house owners of iOS or Android-based gadgets who have been tracked by AirTag or are “in danger” of being stalked due to Apple’s alleged negligence.

Apple didn't instantly reply on Tuesday to requests for remark.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based firm has acknowledged that “unhealthy actors” have tried misusing Airtags.

In February, Apple introduced deliberate upgrades to make it simpler to search out the gadgets, and warn customers sooner that unknown AirTags is likely to be “touring with them.”

has acknowledged that “unhealthy actors” have tried misusing Airtags.

REUTERS

One plaintiff in Monday’s lawsuit, Lauren Hughes, stated her former boyfriend discovered the place she had moved to keep away from him after inserting an AirTag in her automobile’s wheel effectively.

She stated he later posted a photograph on-line of a taco truck from her new neighborhood, and included a winking emoji with the hashtag “#airt2.0.”

The opposite plaintiff, Jane Doe, stated her estranged husband tracked her after placing an AirTag of their little one’s backpack.

The case is Hughes et al v. Apple Inc., US District Court docket, Northern District of California, No. 22-07668.