Apple's AirTag new item positioning is coming! Help you find lost items, but once used by stalkers?

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Apple released the iOS 18.2 "Find My" beta version, allowing users to share the network location of AirTag and objects with specific third parties and airlines. This feature helps users find lost items. This new iOS feature is part of the iOS 18.2 public beta and has now been rolled out in most regions worldwide. Free software updates will soon be available to all users with iPhone Xs or later models.

Users can generate shared item location in the 'Find My' app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The recipients of the shared link can view the tracking on another website and show the location of the item on the interactive shared map. When a new location appears, the website will automatically update and display the most recent timestamp. When the user retrieves the lost item, the shared location will be disabled, and the user can disable the shared location at any time. The system will default to expire the sharing function after seven days.

Apple directly collaborates with airlines to install the system using the existing Apple devices of many airlines. Each linked permission will only be granted to a few parties, and recipients need to authenticate their identity to view the link through their Apple account and email.

Over the next few months, more than 15 airlines will join this service, including Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, easyJet, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Volotea, etc. They will use 'Share Item Location' as part of their customer service to locate lost luggage.

Apple will also cooperate with the SITA WorldTracer baggage tracking system, which is used by over 500 airlines and ground staff in over 2,800 airports worldwide.

Concerns of personal data leakage using shared object location

The shared item location feature is built on the Find My network, which uses Bluetooth wireless detection to locate nearby lost devices or items and share their approximate locations with third parties. The entire process is end-to-end anonymous and encryption, and it is claimed that neither Apple nor Find My component manufacturers nor anyone else can view the location or information of the device without authorization.

AirTag is being used by stalkers, victims file class action lawsuits

In December 2022, Apple was collectively sued by dozens of victims who claimed to have been tracked by AirTags and accused Apple of failing to take sufficient measures to stop the behavior of "stalkers". Apple's AirTags, released in 2021, have become popular products that can be used to locate lost items such as wallets and luggage. However, they have been abused by trackers and turned into criminal tools. Apple's motion to dismiss the class-action lawsuit was rejected by the judge.

AirTag has also become a "surveillance tool" in divorce proceedings. A woman placed an AirTag in her partner's truck to track his whereabouts during divorce proceedings, which violated the law.

Although Apple's new version of Find My has strengthened the verification of Share Item Location, it still cannot prevent malicious individuals from secretly placing AirTags in other people's luggage or transportation to track their movements. Apple's press release did not address preventive measures in this regard. As the beta version is still ongoing, the latest updates will continue to be provided in the future.

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Apple's new AirTag item locator is coming! Help you find lost items, but have you ever been exploited by stalkers? This article was first published in 'encryption city'.