Two women are suing Apple over AirTags, claiming the trackers made stalking and harassment easier.
The women filed a class-action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on Monday, alleging that Apple has not done enough to prevent the product from being used illegally.
AirTags were introduced by Apple in 2021. They cost $29 and work by connecting via Bluetooth to iPhones and iPads. They’re marketed as a close-range alternative to the company’s built-in Find My technology, which provides an approximate location.
“What distinguishes the AirTag from any competitor product is its unparalleled accuracy, ease of use (it seamlessly integrates into Apple’s existing suite of products), and affordability,” according to the lawsuit. “At only $29, it has become the weapon of choice for stalkers and abusers.”
According to one plaintiff, after divorcing her ex-husband, he left an AirTag in her child’s backpack. According to the lawsuit, she attempted to disable it but soon discovered another one.
Lauren Hughes, the other plaintiff, claimed that after ending a three-month relationship with a man, he began calling her from blocked numbers, creating fake profiles to follow her social media accounts, and leaving threatening voicemails.
Hughes claims she was staying in a hotel while planning to leave her apartment for her own safety. When she arrived at her hotel, she was notified that an AirTag was nearby. She eventually discovered it in the wheel well of one of her back tires. According to the complaint, after Hughes moved to her new neighborhood, the man posted a picture of a taco truck nearby with the hashtag “#airt2.0.”
If an unfamiliar AirTag is found nearby, Apple will notify users. However, the notification is not immediate and is only available on devices running iOS 14.5 or later, excluding some older Apple devices. According to the complaint, the consequences could be fatal.
Domestic abuse advocates and technology experts warned Apple about the AirTag’s vulnerability soon after it was released, according to the complaint.
“AirTag was designed to help people locate their personal belongings, not to track people or other people’s property, and we condemn any malicious use of our products in the strongest possible terms,” Apple stated in February.
The women want a jury trial and no monetary compensation.