Dozens join lawsuit alleging Apple AirTags are stalkers’ “weapon of choice.”

  • wahming@monyet.cc
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    1 year ago

    It’s an interesting question. How much focus should be on apple for providing a technology with a valid use case, as opposed to the systemic issue of the authorities ignoring stalkers and harassers?

    Keep in mind that each airtag has a direct link to the identity of the stalker themself. It would take near zero effort for the authorities to actually prosecute these assholes. Instead, the cases are ignored and the stalkers emboldened, until the victims have to seek refuge in any way they can.

    • RojoSanIchiban@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      What, you actually expect cops to… *reads quote under painted seal on the side of the police cruiser

      …“protect and serve?” What are you, crazy? They’ve got their pension to worry about!

  • Granite@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    And yet, Apple is the one alerting people that an AirTag may be following them unlike other brands.

    • JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz
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      1 year ago

      I was on a small lunch cruise this summer and after like an hour or so, my android 11 phone pinged me that it detected an unknown airtag following me. Fairly sure by now most would have that functionality.

    • dingleberry@discuss.tchncs.de
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      1 year ago

      You mean other iPhone users? You are not a person if you don’t buy an iPhone.

      Google and Samsung had to build and rollout safety features because Apple didn’t care for Android users.

      • kirklennon@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Google and Samsung had to build and rollout safety features because Apple didn’t care for Android users.

        The feature needs to be built into the operating system. Apple and Google worked together on a specification for unwanted trackers that’s now built into Android.

      • deur@feddit.nl
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        1 year ago

        Thats not even true… they released their android app for tracker detection in 2021.

        HOWEVER, it doesnt scan in the background like the new safety features do. Let’s not pretend they did absolutely nothing, because they DID do something.

        • ChewTiger@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Because Android users routinely install Apple apps. Most people will never know that the app exists. While yes Apple did do something, in reality it doesn’t do much. Though it would definitely be useful if you get suspicious that someone is stalking you.

          It’d be best if these trackers used an open standard that could be detected by the operating system instead of relying on an app.

    • Earthwormjim91@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Right?

      Seems more like a case of survivorship bias. AirTags get the news because they get caught more often than something like a Tile that does not alert people.

  • who8mydamnoreos@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    This is actually great because it makes it easier to catch the stalkers, only the ones stupid enough to use a device which identifies you to your victim.

  • OhStopYellingAtMe@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Why blame Apple for this?

    Would you sue Ford for making a windowless van that makes it so easy to transport kidnapped children?

    When you configure the AirTag, there is an alert which explicitly states that using these to stalk people is illegal. If someone does try to smuggle one into you and you have any smartphone, it will let you know you’re being stalked.

    I know how much this community looooves to shit on Apple, but this case is completely asinine.

    • CoderKat@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I think it’s a standard case of people suing the one who has money. Stalkers don’t have much (if any) money. Apple has much money. It’s a dumb lawsuit IMO, but there’s generally no penalty for frivolous or misplaced lawsuits (and this is probably on the border where it’s dumb but not frivolous).

    • Maeve@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      As someone who’s ex kept me in misery for several years without one, I respectfully disagree.

    • JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      I wonder if Apple could give an option for the anti stalking to android. If they could but they aren’t, that could be an argument that they are making stalking easier to promote their ecosystem.

      • kirklennon@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        I wonder if Apple could give an option for the anti stalking to android.

        Apple and Google collaborated on a specification for this and anti-stalking rolled out to Android in August.