Google and Apple are working together to address unwanted tracking

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Google and Apple want to create a specification for the technology that alerts users when they’re being tracked by AirTags and similar devices.

Google and Apple have announced that they are seeking input from industry participants and advocacy groups on a draft specification to warn users of suspected unwanted tracking. Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security and Pebblebee have said they will support the specification in future products.

The specification will consist of a set of best practices and protocols for accessory manufacturers whose products have built-in location tracking capabilities. Examples of these accessories are Apple AirTag, Tile Mate and Pro, Samsung SmartTag and the expected Grogu from Google.

The basic principle of these tags is that anyone with the app and corresponding permissions on their device (usually a phone) helps find the last location where the tag was seen. The idea is that you attach a tag to items that you fear losing or losing, like your keys or laptop, or even your car, and when you need to find the item you can look into the app and see where it is. find last contact with a device. This type of contact is usually made via Bluetooth.

After several complaints and reports that these tracking devices were being used to track people rather than find lost items, some states introduced bills to ban the use of trackers to aid stalking. But a bill still doesn’t stop those with criminal intent. Nor did these bills stop the car thieves who planted AirTags on expensive cars, so they could find the cars at home where they were less protected.

The specifications from Apple and Google aim to establish a standard for apps that can detect and warn users of Bluetooth trackers and, if necessary, tell the user how to disable them. The alliance between the two tech giants ensures that this can be done from Android phones and iPhones. Previously, Apple introduced an app called “Tracker Detect” which made it possible to find trackers of objects separate from their owner and compatible with Apple’s Find My network. The proposed specification would allow users to find Bluetooth trackers from various vendors in much the same way.

The draft “Datatracker” specification states that the goal is to help protect people’s privacy from unwanted tracking by location-tracking accessories.

“Location sensing accessories offer many benefits to consumers, but, as with all technologies, they can be misused. Misuse of location tracking accessories can lead to unwanted tracking of individuals or objects for nefarious purposes such as stalking, harassment, and theft. Formalizing a set of best practices for manufacturers will enable scalable compatibility with unwanted tracking detection technologies across various smartphone platforms and improve people’s privacy and security.”

The best practices outlined in the specification target location-enabled accessories that are small, not easily discoverable, and use Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) as the transport protocol. Interested parties are invited and encouraged to review and comment over the next three months. After the comment period, Google and Apple will work together to address the feedback and release a production implementation of the Unwanted Tracking Alerts specification by the end of 2023 which will then be supported in future versions of Android and iOS.

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