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Apple Faces Lawsuit Over AirTag Stalking Concerns

By Rebecca Edwards

Mar 19, 2024

1 min read

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Close up of an AirTag being held in a hand.

Image: Wachiwit, iStock

Apple's AirTags, hailed for their utility in locating lost items, have become controversial. A judge in California has ruled against the tech giant's bid to dismiss a class-action lawsuit over concerns about potential misuse by stalkers. The decision marks a significant development in a legal battle brewing since December 2022.

The lawsuit, filed by about three dozen women and men, alleges that Apple rushed AirTags to market without adequate safeguards to prevent their misuse for stalking purposes. With their affordable price point of just $29, AirTags have allegedly become a favored tool for stalkers and abusers, according to the plaintiffs.

What the decision means

In a ruling last week, US District Judge Vince Chhabria allowed the lawsuit to proceed, stating that the plaintiffs had made sufficient claims for negligence and product liability. Surviving claims in the lawsuit argue that AirTag's safety features were insufficient, leading to injuries when the devices were used for stalking. However, Judge Chhabria noted that it was too early to determine if California law required Apple to do more to prevent stalking incidents involving AirTags.

In response to the lawsuit, Apple emphasized its commitment to user safety and condemned any misuse of its products. The tech giant highlighted its proactive measures to address stalking concerns, including implementing anti-stalking features such as improved tracking alerts and notifications, introduced in February 2022. These efforts aimed to mitigate the potential for unwanted tracking and ensure user safety.

Following Apple's lead, other manufacturers in the Bluetooth-tracking device industry, such as Tile, announced plans to enhance their own anti-stalking measures. Despite these efforts, the lawsuit alleges that Apple's initial design and release of AirTags were defective and failed to meet consumer safety expectations. Amidst the legal battle, we advise users to remain vigilant about potential tracking with AirTags.

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Disclaimer: Portions of this article were assisted by automation technology. All content therein has been augmented, thoroughly edited, and fact-checked by our in-house editorial staff of human safety experts.

Written by

Rebecca Edwards

Rebecca is the lead safety reporter and in-house expert for SafeWise.com. She has been a journalist and blogger for over 25 years, with a focus on home and community safety for the past decade. Rebecca spends dozens of hours every month poring over crime and safety reports and spotting trends. Her expertise is sought after by publications, broadcast journalists, non-profit organizations, podcasts, and more. You can find her expert advice and analysis in places like NPR, TechCrunch, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, HGTV, MSN, Reader's Digest, Real Simple, and an ever-growing library of podcast, radio and TV clips in the US and abroad.