Apple AirTag is a tiny locator that first and foremost aims to facilitate the owners in the discovery of one’s misplaced personal stuff, such as keys, bags, wallets, or luggage. As helpful as the technology may be, some privacy concerns have even deepened. Hence, the general public has been raising the issue of whether Apple AirTag could be a secret tracking tool of someone who is unwilling.
First things first, one should know the security model of AirTags and what kind of risks there may be, which is significant for you to protect your privacy.
Apple AirTag: What It Is, How It Works?
An Apple AirTag is essentially a tracking device that relies on Bluetooth and the Find My network of Apple. Whenever an AirTag is in proximity to any Apple device with internet connectivity, its location can be refreshed and displayed to the owner of the AirTag. Thus, this functionality is able to trace lost objects even if the objects are very far from their owner.
Usually, AirTags do not require GPS or mobile data all the time. Instead, they rely on the nearest Apple devices to anonymously transmit location information. While this functionality is indeed a big plus for user data protection, it might also mean that the device can be covertly used for spying or stalking if the wearer is not informed that it is placed in someone else’s belongings.
Is It Possible to Track Someone Without Their Consent by Using an Apple AirTag?
In a strictly technical sense, there is always a possibility – if an AirTag is sneaked into a person’s bag, car, or any personal item, no one except the owners of the AirTag will be able to track him/her/it silently. The AirTag’s owner will be able to receive location updates as long as the person whose item is being tracked moves around with the item.
What this means is that AirTags are not devices around the corner of prepping an espionage of other human beings. Apple is very clear about this issue that people-tracking without consent is not a use-case intended and may even be against the law in that there are a lot of places out there where this is so. Nevertheless, a misuse of any sort of tracking technology is largely a matter of a person’s intention rather than the device.
Privacy Safeguards Built Into Apple AirTag
Apple has implemented a number of safety features to keep the use of air tags from being abused:
- Unknown AirTag alerts will inform iPhone users if an AirTag that is not registered with their Apple ID seems to be traveling with them.
- Audible alerts make the AirTag release a noise if it has been away from its owner longer than a certain time.
- Cross-platform detection allows Android users to find out whether there are any unknown AirTags around them with the help of Apple’s tracker detection tools.
- Owner identification is available by tapping the AirTag with a phone that has NFC, so the misuse can be traced by the authorities.
Such features aim at preventing long-term, concealed tracking; however, they might not always determine the wrong use right away.
Real Privacy Concerns and Limitations
Even though there are safety features, privacy concerns still exist. Notifications may take quite a lot of time to be triggered and some people may ignore or misinterpret the messages. Also, in a crowded place or in public, the sound alerts can get lost.
What is more, not everyone is in the habit of regularly checking their phone settings or updating their device, so it makes the detection process slower. Therefore, knowledge and individual alertness still have a major share in privacy protection.
Is It Legal to Track Someone Using an AirTag?
The majority of countries consider it against the law to follow someone without their consent. Following someone without their consent is a violation of their rights and will be prosecuted as stalking, harassment or a breach of privacy. Apple has sent a message to consumers indicating that AirTag devices are not meant to track other people’s property or use them as a tracking device for another person.
Ways To Safeguard Yourself Against Unlawful Tracking
- Make sure to update your smartphone’s operating system regularly
- Allow notifications of unknown tracking devices
- If you get an alert, inspect your bags, car, and other personal belongings for a tracker
- Do not ignore alerts react immediately
- If you are feeling scared or threatened, call the police
It is best to be aware first of all that knowledge is the greatest weapon against the situation of being tracked without your consent.
Conclusion
Apple AirTags are great to help you locate your lost belongings, yet they also bring out the problem of privacy which is a matter of concern in using any modern tracking technology. Apple is trying to make it difficult to misuse AirTags, but it is impossible to make a system that is one hundred percent safe.
On the one hand, AirTags can be great helpers if used well. On the other hand, if used in a wrong way, they can be a source of privacy intrusion. Alertness, security features of technology, and laws are like different sides of a coin which together help to prevent the cases when one is being tracked without their permission.