This isn’t the first evidence of Apple’s AirTags being misused for surveillance purposes. In early 2022, a model testified that she found an AirTag in her jacket pocket after a night out. But this time the case will be brought to justice in San Francisco.
Two complainants, only one of whom has agreed to reveal his identity, have sued Apple, accusing them of not having thought enough about protecting AirTags.
Marketed in 2021 and available for sale for the modest sum of 39 euros, they present themselves as the best way to stop losing keys or wallets, thanks to the geolocation system. So practical, and very small, so small that you slip it everywhere. Including, without anyone knowing.
The AirTag, an indicator of the extent of domestic violence
Lauren Hughes says her ex-boyfriend placed an AirTag on the wheel of her car and, to taunt her, regularly sent her photos of places in her neighborhood with the hashtag “#airt2.0”. The testimony of the other anonymous plaintiff is of the same type: she found an AirTag deposited by her ex-husband in her son’s bag. Since then she has feared for her safety.
With Jezebel, Erica Olsen, director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence safety program, reminds us that this is not just an Apple device case. “Tracking and surveillance is an abuse tactic that goes beyond AirTags and has been a recurring problem in domestic violence and stalking for a long time. »
Apple’s safeguards “they are woefully inadequate and do little or nothing to promptly warn people when they are being monitored” takes note of the complaint lodged on Monday 5 December.
In February 2022, however, Apple said it was taking the problem very seriously and revealed a series of precautions: at the time of first use, a warning message must appear reminding that the AirTag must be used to find your property and not to exercise a surveillance. Is that just enough? The company also wants to warn people placed under surveillance against their will more effectively and quickly, for example by means of an acoustic signal.
Photo credit: Onur Binay via Unsplash
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence or you just want to find out more:
- 3919 and the government website let’s stop They violence
- Our practical article My boyfriend hit me: how to react, what to do when you are a victim of violence in your relationship?
- the association All ahead and its help chat available at How do we love each other?
Source: Madmoizelle
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
