https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/10/apple-airtags-triggered-explosion-of-stalking-reports-nationwide-lawsuit-says/
Dozens join lawsuit alleging Apple AirTags are stalkers’ “weapon of choice.”
Dozens join lawsuit alleging Apple AirTags are stalkers’ “weapon of choice.”
Why blame Apple for this?
Would you sue Ford for making a windowless van that makes it so easy to transport kidnapped children?
When you configure the AirTag, there is an alert which explicitly states that using these to stalk people is illegal. If someone does try to smuggle one into you and you have any smartphone, it will let you know you’re being stalked.
I know how much this community looooves to shit on Apple, but this case is completely asinine.
I think it's a standard case of people suing the one who has money. Stalkers don't have much (if any) money. Apple has much money. It's a dumb lawsuit IMO, but there's generally no penalty for frivolous or misplaced lawsuits (and this is probably on the border where it's dumb but not frivolous).
I wonder if Apple could give an option for the anti stalking to android. If they could but they aren't, that could be an argument that they are making stalking easier to promote their ecosystem.
Android can show you alerts even without the Apple app https://support.google.com/android/answer/13658562?hl=en
They already did, except you need to be willing to install a proprietary Apple application. Still a de facto data ransom.
That used to be the case, but Apple and Google worked together recently to make it work just like on iPhone - no need for a 3rd party app or anything to notify you if an Airtag is with you.
Hmm, I didn't know this. I checked and it's enabled. However, the last scan was 11 days ago. Doesn't seem very useful if it's not scanning that often.
Is it limited to a notification though? The phone and the tag have to communicate with each other in order to send the ping. It should be as easy as a setting on your phone that says "do not process airtag data" and no tags ping through your phone if you don't allow it.
This would be useless. It’s like turning off a single bulb in a room full of lights in the hopes that it gets dark. One single device falling off as an avenue when you’re surrounded by other devices it can connect to is useless.
I wonder if Apple could give an option for the anti stalking to android.
Apple and Google collaborated on a specification for this and anti-stalking rolled out to Android in August.
They put out an android app that will notify people of AirTags not that long after they first came out, so they already have. But, as is kinda obvious, not so many people know about it.
The pixels seem to have it by default. I don't have the Apple app, but my phone will tell me the airtag on my keys was following me. It's pointless though, because it shows up a couple hours after the fact.
Fair point. I still feel that it could be better. I'm seeing that I can go to work, be there all day, and come home, and only receive the notification late evening. I'd prefer it to be faster for the sake of those affected by actual stalking.
If the court certified a class of people alleging a claim against Apple based on damages incurred as a result of the AirTag products, the case, at the very least, deserves to be heard on its merits.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable that something like this would go to trial. The questions of what statutes, if any, has Apple violated and what liability Apple should hold deserve to be answered in a court of equity.
Now whether the final ruling will be fair and just depends on your view of our system of civil courts and the doctrine of stare decisis.
Think of it this way; if the court agrees with you, then there is precedent set that implies corporations may not have liability under a set of circumstances similar to the ones described in this article. There are broader implications of the question that go beyond Apple.
I know how much this community looooves to shit in Apple, but this case is completely asinine.
It's so dumb how people say "this community" and they it on every community. It's not a specific community; it's people in general.
It's an interesting question. How much focus should be on apple for providing a technology with a valid use case, as opposed to the systemic issue of the authorities ignoring stalkers and harassers?
Keep in mind that each airtag has a direct link to the identity of the stalker themself. It would take near zero effort for the authorities to actually prosecute these assholes. Instead, the cases are ignored and the stalkers emboldened, until the victims have to seek refuge in any way they can.
What, you actually expect cops to... *reads quote under painted seal on the side of the police cruiser
..."protect and serve?" What are you, crazy? They've got their pension to worry about!
The neat part of the trick is that the quote never says who specifically gets protection and service.
The Decepticons were actually the good guys, and chose the slogan they thought would allow them to blend in.
And yet, Apple is the one alerting people that an AirTag may be following them unlike other brands.
I was on a small lunch cruise this summer and after like an hour or so, my android 11 phone pinged me that it detected an unknown airtag following me. Fairly sure by now most would have that functionality.
It's a phone running an OS from 2 or more major revs ago. So, like, the notification functionally is in a LOT of phones by now.
You mean other iPhone users? You are not a person if you don't buy an iPhone.
Google and Samsung had to build and rollout safety features because Apple didn't care for Android users.
Google and Samsung had to build and rollout safety features because Apple didn’t care for Android users.
The feature needs to be built into the operating system. Apple and Google worked together on a specification for unwanted trackers that's now built into Android.
Thats not even true... they released their android app for tracker detection in 2021.
HOWEVER, it doesnt scan in the background like the new safety features do. Let's not pretend they did absolutely nothing, because they DID do something.
Because Android users routinely install Apple apps. Most people will never know that the app exists. While yes Apple did do something, in reality it doesn't do much. Though it would definitely be useful if you get suspicious that someone is stalking you.
It'd be best if these trackers used an open standard that could be detected by the operating system instead of relying on an app.
Right?
Seems more like a case of survivorship bias. AirTags get the news because they get caught more often than something like a Tile that does not alert people.
This is actually great because it makes it easier to catch the stalkers, only the ones stupid enough to use a device which identifies you to your victim.