Apple Adds Warning For AirTags Addressing Consequences For Stalking & Theft

Apple has announced it will be adding a new warning to AirTags to dissuade bad actors who use them to commit crimes. 

The move comes as more reports have surfaced of the tracking devices being used in car thefts or to stalk unsuspecting victims.

Going forward, when a user sets up a new AirTag, a warning will inform them that tracking people without their consent is a crime, and that the devices in themselves have been designed to be detected by the victims.

Furthermore, Apple has confirmed that law enforcement will be able to request identifying information about owners that use the device for nefarious purposes via the unique serial number linked to a user account.

“We have successfully partnered with [law enforcement] on cases where information we provided has been used to trace an AirTag back to the perpetrator, who was then apprehended and charged,” the company said. 

According to NBC News, aside from the new warning, the tech giant said it will address alert issues for AirPods. At the moment, users receive an “Unknown Accessory Detected” alert when other earbuds are nearby, causing confusion when they’re unsure if the accessory is an AirPod or AirTag.

In this software update, the alert will be changed to reflect AirPods instead of “Unknown Accessory,” so users know exactly which device has been located in their proximity. 

Later this year, the company will introduce more safety measures, including precision finding of an unknown AirTag, display alerts, and an updated tone sequence to make the tracking devices easier to locate.

[via NBC News and Apple, cover image via starry-sky-visual / Shutterstock.com]