This month, over three dozen plaintiffs joined forces in a class-action lawsuit launched last December against Apple, alleging that AirTags are being exploited as a stalking tool. In an expanded case, they claim that Apple’s negligence has made it simple and inexpensive for stalkers to track their targets in real-time. Plaintiffs claimed that there has been an increase in AirTags stalking instances since the lawsuit began, with over 150 police reports in the US by April 2022.
Financial ruin and violence have resulted from stalking occurrences.
The victims think Apple has done insufficient to prevent the harm caused by AirTags stalking. As a result, victims frequently end up spending large sums on mechanics to search their cars for hidden AirTags or moving many times. According to the complaint, in addition to the preceding occurrences, there have been 19 AirTags stalking cases in one US metropolitan region alone.
Plaintiffs claim that stalking can result in violence and even murder.
AirTags stalking is a severe issue, with some incidents culminating in murder. According to the complaint, the repercussions of AirTag stalking can be grave, since several murders have happened as a result of offenders tracking their victims with AirTags. LaPrecia Sanders, an Indiana plaintiff, lost her son after his girlfriend allegedly used an AirTag to track his movements and then ran him over with her automobile, murdering him on the spot.
AirTags: A game-changing tool for location-based stalking?
AirTags, which are designed to assist users in retrieving lost or stolen things, appear to have changed the game for location-based stalking. These gadgets are part of Apple’s enormous tracking network, which stalkers exploit. AirTags’ precision, user-friendliness, and low cost, according to victims, make them the go-to tool for stalkers and abusers. Many victims have reported being pursued by abusive spouses or ex-partners who conceal AirTags in personal possessions or cars.
Apple’s ineffective approach to stalker allegations
According to the lawsuit, Apple was aware of the potential for stalkers to exploit AirTags but marketed them as “stalker-proof.”
When its “stalker-proof” defenses were “exposed as totally inadequate,” and safeguards failed, the corporation rushed to correct its errors. Despite the addition of safety features such as iOS notifications, chimes in AirTags, and a “Tracker Detect” app, plaintiffs contend that AirTags are still unsafe and facilitate stalking.
Apple is being sued by victims for monetary damages and an injunction
Apple’s acts, according to the victims, violate federal and state laws, charging the company of irresponsibly releasing a flawed product, breaching privacy, and unjust enrichment. They are suing for damages on behalf of everyone in the United States who has an iOS or Android smartphone, including those who have been stalked and those who are in danger of being stalked. They also want a court order to prevent Apple from continuing its claimed illegal AirTag practices.
