The proposal for a class action lawsuit was filed in federal court earlier this week, according to CNN, on behalf of one Texas woman and one New York woman, each seeking unspecified monetary damages. One woman says that her ex-boyfriend placed one of the company’s tracking devices inside the wheel well of her car, hidden under Sharpie markings and a plastic baggie. The other, identified as Jane Doe, says her ex-husband hid the devices in her child’s backpack more than once after harassing her over her whereabouts. “Ms. Doe continues to fear for her safety—at minimum, her stalker has evidenced a commitment to continuing to use AirTags to track, harass, and threaten her, and continues to use AirTags to find Plaintiff’s location,” the lawsuit said, according to the publication, noting that she is filing anonymously in fear of being put further at risk. AirTags are about the size of a quarter and, using Bluetooth technology, are intended to be used on things like keys or wallets to help track them down. But at a relatively affordable $29 a pop, they’re not difficult to obtain, making them an attractive option for nefarious purposes. Upon their release in early 2021, experts warned that they could be used to track individuals unknowingly and without their consent, according to CNN, and this isn’t the first time they’ve reportedly been used in stalking/murder cases and even car thefts. Apple added certain safeguards earlier this year, including a phone alert when an AirTag or AirPods are determined to be potentially used to track the user. Still, the alerts are not always issued in a timely manner. Apple hasn’t commented on the current case but said in a previous statement, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products.” But the women assert that Apple has not done enough to protect those “who have been and who are at risk of stalking via this dangerous product,” calling the safeguards “woefully inadequate” as they currently stand.
