Apple announced today that it is making changes to AirTags in order to reduce unwanted tracking. Several changes will be implemented in a multi-phase rollout.
Apple intends to implement new privacy warnings that will appear during AirTag setup to thwart malicious use in an upcoming software update. The warning will state that the AirTag is linked to an Apple ID, that tracking people with it is illegal, and that law enforcement can request identifying information about the AirTag's owner. According to Apple, the language of the alert may change slightly, but it will essentially convey the following information:
Your Apple ID is linked to AirTag. AirTag is only intended to track items that you own. Using AirTag to track people without their permission is a crime in many parts of the world. AirTag is intended to be detected by victims and to allow law enforcement to obtain identifying information about the owner.
Apple will also address a bug that was causing confusion about unwanted tracking. AirPods can cause a "Unknown Accessory Alert" warning, which some people mistook for an AirTag notification. AirTags cannot display the "Unknown Accessory Detected" messaging caused by AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, third-generation AirPods, and, in some cases, a Find My network accessory.
AirPods will be properly identified in the upcoming software update, so users will no longer see the perplexing "Unknown Accessory" messaging.
Along with these software updates, Apple is updating its Unwanted Tracking support article with additional information on the safety features built into AirTag, AirPods, and Find My network accessories. There are more detailed explanations of which accessories can cause an unwanted tracking alert, visuals of what those alerts look like, and more information on what users should do if they receive such an alert.
The documentation is much more detailed than the previous support information, and it also includes links to resources that people can use if they believe their safety is jeopardised, as well as clear instructions on how to locate and disable an AirTag.
While these are the most recent changes made by Apple, the company is also working on new safety features that will be implemented later this year. Precision Finding, enhanced display alerts, and louder sounds will make it more difficult to use AirTags for people tracking.
Precision Finding - Similar to the Precision Finding feature available to AirTag owners, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13 users who receive an unwanted tracking alert can locate an unknown AirTag with precision. When an unknown AirTag is in range, the feature will provide the distance and direction to it, making it easier to locate.
Display with Ultra Sound - When an AirTag is separated from its owner, it will not only play a sound to alert those nearby, but it will also display an alert on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch so that it can be tracked down by sound or Precision Finding if the feature is available. According to Apple, this feature will be useful if the AirTag sound is difficult to hear or if the speaker has been tampered with.
Unwanted tracking alerts will be updated - Apple will update its alert system to notify users earlier if an unknown AirTag or Find My network accessory is travelling with them.
Louder AirTag sound - When an iOS user receives an unwanted tracking alert, they can cause the AirTag to play a sound to help them find it. Apple will change the tone sequence to use more of the loudest tones, making AirTags more audible and easier to find.
There is no set date for the release of these new features, but Apple has them planned for later in 2022. These updates are intended for Apple product users, and Apple has nothing to say about Android today.
In addition to announcing AirTags updates, Apple stated that AirTags privacy has always been a priority. According to Apple, unwanted tracking "has long been a societal problem," which is why AirTags were designed with privacy in mind, with the "first-ever proactive system" designed to provide unwanted tracking alerts.
Apple says it is listening to customer feedback and innovating to make ongoing improvements to avoid invasive monitoring, so other changes, particularly for Android users, may occur in the future.
Unwanted AirTag tracking has not escaped Apple's notice, and the firm has stated that it has been collaborating with law enforcement in cases where AirTags are being exploited maliciously. Each AirTag has a unique serial number, and each AirTag is linked to an Apple ID. When law enforcement requests paired account details, Apple is able to supply them, and it has collaborated with the authorities in situations where the information Apple provided was used to connect an AirTag back to the culprit, who was captured and prosecuted.
Unwanted AirTag surveillance has not gone unnoticed by Apple, and the company has claimed that it has been helping with law enforcement in situations where AirTags are being fraudulently exploited. Each AirTag has its own serial number, and each AirTag is associated with an Apple ID. When law enforcement demands paired account details, Apple can offer them, and it has worked with authorities in circumstances where the information Apple gave was used to link an AirTag back to the offender, who was apprehended and convicted.
The notification system Apple's decision to alert prospective victims of any unauthorised tracking has helped to shed light on a problem that existed long before AirTags were introduced. We are pleased that Apple is participating in the dialogue regarding victim safety and that they are working to strengthen protections. We hope that more will follow in their footsteps.
Since the debut of the AirTags last April, there has been an increase in the amount of news reports concerning the AirTags being used for stalking people or stealing objects such as vehicles using the tracking functions. Apple has been chastised for a safety mechanism that falls short of safeguarding customers, particularly those who do not own Apple products. In response, Apple has already made many modifications to the way AirTags work and launched an app for Android users that searches for nearby AirTags, and perhaps the adjustments coming later this year will dissuade the use of AirTags for unwanted tracking.
