Apple and Google Join Forces to Tackle Misuse of Bluetooth Location-Tracking Devices

Bluetooth location-tracking devices, such as Apple's AirTag and Tile, are often used to help people find their personal items like keys, wallets, and bags through crowdsourced finding networks. However, these devices can also be misused for unwanted tracking of individuals. To combat this, Apple and Google have jointly submitted a proposed industry specification to address the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices for unwanted tracking.

The first-of-its-kind specification will allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across iOS and Android platforms. The initiative aims to provide a universal solution to improve the detectability of these devices and reduce the likelihood of them being misused.

This collaboration has received support from several device manufacturers, including Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security, and Pebblebee. The specification offers best practices and instructions for manufacturers to build these capabilities into their products.

This proposed specification is expected to be a critical step forward to help combat unwanted tracking across iOS and Android. “We built AirTag and the Find My network with a set of proactive features to discourage unwanted tracking — a first in the industry — and we continue to make improvements to help ensure the technology is being used as intended. This new industry specification builds upon the AirTag protections, and through collaboration with Google results in a critical step forward to help combat unwanted tracking across iOS and Android,” says Ron Huang, Apple’s Vice President of Sensing and Connectivity.

The National Network to End Domestic Violence and the Center for Democracy & Technology have also provided input into the development of the specification. The specification has been submitted as an Internet-Draft via the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), a leading standards development organization. The companies are encouraging interested parties to review and comment over the next three months.

Following the comment period, Apple and Google will partner to address feedback and release a production implementation of the specification for unwanted tracking alerts by the end of 2023, which will then be supported in future versions of iOS and Android.

Overall, this initiative demonstrates the commitment of Apple and Google to provide a safe and secure experience for users of Bluetooth location-tracking devices. The proposed specification offers a promising solution to help minimize opportunities for abuse of this technology and decrease the burden on users in detecting unwanted trackers. We look forward to seeing this specification moving through the standardization process and reducing the risk of Bluetooth location trackers being misused.

Apple’s press release available here.