Apple and Google to Address Bluetooth Tracking for Stalking Prevention

Bluetooth tracking has always been a great help to people who usually lose their cherished things. However, before Apple’s AirTag, this technology existed but gained significant dominance due to the extreme features of AirTag. AirTag is designed to help users locate or track their purses, bags, and other items. However, these tracking devices have been misused over the last few months.

According to past data, millions of users have made complaint requests. AirTag is not explicitly affected by this issue but is consistent with Bluetooth tracking devices. Despite taking action, the Bluetooth tracker manufacturers did not resolve the problem permanently. For this reason, Apple and Google developed industry standards. So let’s discuss all that and see what they intend.

Apple and Google Partnered to Stop Unwanted Tracking with AirTags and Other Trackers Stalking

I accept that Bluetooth device trackers have no substitute for tracking items like bags, purses, and keys. Apple’s AirTag works outstandingly. The prominent feature is that AirTags send out a secure signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My Network, making them safe. The chain will provide real-time tracking services. However, there is a significant catch that most unauthorized users still need to address.

Some people know that such Bluetooth tracking is so robust that it can reveal the location of your lost data with a high degree of accuracy. However, some people use it to track individual users, harming other users’ privacy. It takes much time for elopers to bypass their programming to find out the real victims, which is only sometimes possible, especially when the person is committing individual tracking.

There is no way to overcome that individual tracking issue. For this reason, Apple and Google recently announced a partnership to prevent such unfair practices from continuing. Both are working on new industry standards that will cover this issue as well. One surprising thing is that Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy Security, and Pebblebee are the companies already supporting the new industry standards drafted.

Google and Apple have taken this initiative to ensure a secure user experience across the Android and iOS platforms. The draft they have prepared has been submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and will be open for review for the next three months. Based on feedback, both Apple and Google will soon announce the production and implementation of new standards worldwide.

By the end of 2023, we will be far away from individual tracking problems. It would be great to be a part of both Google and Apple, as they think a lot about their customer experience, especially when such mispractices happen. Now, I hope all such users doing unfair Bluetooth stalking will themselves need to stop, as these new industry standards will not leave any space for them. With this implementation, you will feel more secure than before.

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