Apple, Google come together to launch new tool to stop anti-stalking trackers

Apple AirTag

Months after initially announcing it, Apple and Google have come together to announce a new an industry specification — Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers — for Bluetooth tracking devices. With the new standard, it will be possible to alert users across both iOS and Android if such a device is unknowingly being used to track them. This will help mitigate the misuse of devices designed to help keep track of belongings.

Apple is implementing this capability with the roll out of iOS 17.5, whereas Google is launching this capability on Android 6.0+ devices.

With this new capability, users will now get an “[Item] Found Moving With You” alert on their device if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is seen moving with them over time, regardless of the platform the device is paired with. This will help users in knowing if any person is stalking them or keeping tabs on their items’ whereabouts.

If a user gets such an alert on their iOS device, it means that someone else’s AirTag, Find My accessory, or other compatible Bluetooth tracker is moving with them. It’s possible the tracker is attached to an item the user is borrowing, but if not, iPhone can view the tracker’s identifier, have the tracker play a sound to help locate it, and access instructions to disable it. The two companies said that it will work with AirTag and other Bluetooth trackers from Chipolo, eufy, Jio, Motorola, and Pebblebee.

There have been many reported instances of AirTag and other Bluetooth trackers being misused for stalking people. With support for both iOS and Android, this new Bluetooth standard will help users in being more alert about other trackers around them.