Apple and Google have teamed up to propose industry standards for fighting misuse of location-tracking devices, such as AirTags and Tile trackers.
The upcoming specification would enable Android and iOS users to receive alerts when they are being tracked by unwanted devices.
- The proposal calls for "unauthorized tracking detection and alerts" to help prevent people from misusing the trackers in cases of theft, stalking, and harassment.
- Apple and Google envision the safety measures as a standard to ensure features and inter-compatibility across platforms.
- Other item trackers could build upon the iPhone and Android alert tools.
- The proposal for Bluetooth tracker manufacturers has the backing of Tile, Samsung, Chipolo, Eufy Security, and Pebblebee.
- Apple and Google expect to have a "production implementation" by the end of this year and to support it “in future versions of iOS and Android.”