2 women allege AirTags helped their exes stalk them, sue Apple

NEW DELHI: Apple has been sued by two womenwho said its AirTag devices have made it easier for their former partners and other stalkers to track down victims. In a proposed class action filed on Monday in San Francisco federal court, the women said Apple has been unable to protect people from unwanted trafficking through AirTag since launching what it called the “stalker proof ” device in April 2021.
Starting at $29, AirTags are 3. 2 cm in diameter, and intended to be slipped into or attached to wallets, backpacks and other items so people can find them when they are lost. But law enforcement agencies have said some people use Airtags for criminal or malicious purposes. The plaintiffs called AirTag “the weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers”, and said it has been linked to murders this year of women from Ohio and Indianapolis. One plaintiff, Jane Doe, said her estranged husband tracked her after putting an AirTag in their child’s backpack. The suit seeks unspecified damages for US owners of Android-based devices who were tracked by AirTag or are “at risk” of being stalked because of Apple’s alleged negligence.
Apple did not respond to requests for comment. The firm has said that “bad actors” have tried misusing Airtags.