Apple launches ‘Personal Safety User Guide’ to address AirTag concerns

Apple released a new personal safety user guide on Tuesday following accusations that the AirTag monitoring accessory had been used to stalk people.

The company’s “Personal Safety Guide” on its website has been updated with new information on how to determine if someone is wearing an unknown AirTag and what to do if they hear an AirTag alarm or receive a message.

The instruction describes how to check for AirTags on Android devices. It is meant for people who are concerned about technology-enabled abuse, stalking, or harassment, according to Apple.

When people buy Apple devices or subscribe to any of its services, they may expect an extra degree of security. The AirTags, on the other hand, has certainly put Apple in a difficult spot.

What is an Apple AirTag?

Apple introduced its AirTag item tracker as a new iPhone accessory last year. An AirTag is a tracking device that aids in the finding of personal goods such as keys, wallets, and luggage when they are misplaced at home or when traveling. When someone with an iPhone, iPad or Mac comes within Bluetooth range of a wallet with an AirTag attached, you’ll get a notification with the location.

Any iOS or Mac device that gets close to an AirTag communicates the tag’s location to Apple’s cloud computing network. It then sends it to the owner. On the iPhone, an app named “Find My” tracks how far the tracker has traveled and displays a map with the exact location. According to Apple, only the tag’s owner can see where the tag is now located. Also, the tracking gadget does not save location or history.

Despite Apple’s claims that the AirTags provide greater security and safety than similar products on the market, the reality is quite different. Last week, the BBC published an investigative story. It discovered that at least six women in the US came forward to report that they were victims of stalking using AirTags. The AirTags have effectively become trackers for many unsuspecting victims. It is because they are simple to set up and use with any iPhone.

Apple personal safety user guide

Apple is aware of the issue. Therefore, in recent months it took steps to solve the growing problem of stalking through its AirTag. The Personal Safety User Guide aims to provide users with resources, like personal safety features available throughout the Apple ecosystem. A year after it first came out, a data privacy guide had been updated to include a section on AirTags.

Apple discusses privacy features and the security mechanism in place to avoid stalking in the guide. Also, what to do if you hear an AirTag producing a noise that isn’t theirs. To be clear, Apple will not be releasing any new security features to improve privacy. This guide is a useful safety resource for anyone “who is concerned about or experiencing technology-enabled abuse, stalking, or harassment.”

Apple stated during the launch of the tracking device last year that AirTags would have built-in abuse mitigation measures. Privacy advocates, on the other hand, have criticized the features as insufficient.

To address some of these concerns, Apple released an update this summer. It made AirTags beep at 60 decibels (conversational volume) after the tracking device was away from the owner for 8 – 24 hours. Apple also released a new Android software called Tracker Detect near the end of 2021. It aimed to help Android smartphone users detect suspicious AirTags in the region.