Apple and Google was announced on Monday when iPhone and Android users will start seeing notifications when an unknown Bluetooth device is likely being used to track them. The two companies have developed an industry standard called “Unwanted Location Tracker Detection”. Starting Monday, Apple is introducing the feature in iOS 17.5, and Google is rolling it out to Android 6.0+ devices.
Users will now receive a “[Item] Found Moving With You” notification on their device if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is seen moving with them, regardless of the platform the device is paired with.
The move follows several instances of Bluetooth tracking, such as Apple’s AirTags being used for stalking. Last May, Apple and Google announced that they would work together to lead a global initiative to create a way to notify users of unwanted tracking by Bluetooth devices.
When Apple released AirTags, they were quickly adopted as a way to track the location of everyday items like keys. However, they also ended up being trackers adopted by bad actors who use them to track people. To counter this, Apple released an Android app “Tracker Detect” in 2021 to help people who don’t own Apple products unexpectedly locate AirTags near them. The new industry standard announced Monday takes an operating system-level approach to addressing the issue of unwanted Bluetooth trackers.
Bluetooth tag companies including Chipolo, eufy, Jio, Motorola and Pebblebee have pledged that future tags will be compatible with the new industry standard, Apple says.
Apple and Google say they will continue to work with the Internet Engineering Task Force, an Internet standards organization, through the Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers task force to develop the official standard for this technology.
