"So it is unfortunately a really effective technology for potentially using to stalk," Fowler said.Īnother protection built into the AirTag's design is the "AirTag Found Moving With You" alert. And that means, suddenly, Apple has created a massive new surveillance network that's available to people."Īnd at just $30 a pop, they are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. "These tap into literally every iPhone out there - a billion different devices. people like me are raising the alarm about AirTags is because when Apple gets involved, we're talking about a whole other scale," Fowler said. But Apple's device can reach many more individuals, given the tech company's already broad reach. Similar Bluetooth-based tracking devices are already on the market, including a product from tech company Tile. "So it's a double-edged sword with this kind of technology, and I think we need to talk more about it," Fowler said. The device even revealed Fowler's home address to his colleague, sparking privacy concerns. "When I was riding my bike around town, it could update him on my whereabouts every couple of minutes." "It was terrifyingly good at it," Fowler told CBSN. But critics say this and other built-in safeguards aren't sufficient to protect potential victims from stalking.įowler said a colleague slipped an AirTag into Fowler's bag with his permission and tracked him for one week. For instance, when an AirTag is separated from its owner's iPhone for more than three days, it will chime. "But the problem is someone could slip one of these into your bag, or into your car or some other belonging of yours, without you knowing it." "Terrifyingly good" at trackingĪirTags can be set up to sent alerts to prevent unwanted tracking. "That's super handy if you maybe lose keys in the park and you need to find them again," Fowler told CBSN's Lana Zak. The trackers connect to the AirTag owner's iPhone to share their location. Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey Fowler tested the tags, which can be attached to a keychain, iPhone or other device, or simply placed in an individual's purse or wallet. Experts say the gadget could facilitate stalking and enable domestic abusers. The small, round tag is impressively precise and relatively easy to use - and potentially misuse. Still not convinced? Check out our in depth review of the Apple AirTag.Apple's AirTag technology, the company's new device for helping people find lost items, could also let stalkers keep tabs on their victims, experts warn. It’s a system that really does work, and serves up a hearty dose of reassurance whenever an AirTag is clipped onto a valued possession.ĭespite twisting open to reveal the removable CR2032 battery inside, the AirTag boasts IP67 water resistance, which means it’ll survive being dunked to depths of up to a metre, too. These all connect to the Find My network, so when one comes within a few metres of your lost AirTag, you’ll be notified of its location. This is partly down to how well the Find My app works, but also because of the millions and millions of iPhones in use all over the world. Unlike the Tile mate (£19.99, .uk) and Samsung Galaxy smart tag (£21.49, .uk), the AirTag requires a case, which can then be attached to whatever you want.īut don’t let that put you off, because Apple’s possession-finding system is one of the very best. This makes for a clean, stylish look, but also means the AirTag lacks a hole for hooking it onto your keys, bag or anything else. The AirTag is a coin-sized Bluetooth tracker with typical Apple minimalism. Features: Bluetooth for proximity finding, Apple U1 chip for ultra-wideband precision finding, accelerometer, NFC tap for lost mode, in-built speaker.
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