The passage of time does not prevent people or property from being unknowingly tracked. You assume that everyone knows what an Airtag is.
Nope. I was specifically expressing surprise that you, a MacRumors member since 2008, either didn't know what an AirTag was, or only decided to get upset about it roughly one year after release despite it being a pretty hot topic on this forum and elsewhere for more than half a year after launch.
Tools are for those who are Apple users/customers. To their disappointment not everyone is an Apple customer.
AirTags are designed to produce a noticeable sound when potentially being misused in this way. Also Apple has a scanner app available for Android. I'll admit It'd be nice if Apple could perhaps have a web app, and ideal if Apple could work with Google and MS on the OS side, and Tile, LifeLock, and the rest of the keeping track of stuff/people industry to better try and ensure their products aren't misuded.
Just because someone can do something doesn’t always mean they should. There are numerous devices/inventions that have been created that its creator wished they had never created.
The scale of which Apple operates at makes the risk of such a product even greater.
Might and majority does not make something right, moral or safe.
This is actually somewhat similar to one of the larger points I was trying to make in the post. Almost all new technologies produce negative externalities to some degree. IMHO, in response to that the question for society isn't "how do we stop beneficial new technologies from being released/ban them" but instead "how do we mitigate/manage those negative externalities." If you start from a position of "negative externalities/unintended consequences? Ban it" progress becomes much more difficult.
Also, while I'll concede Apple is an industry juggernaut, the established names in the business, like Tile, aren't exactly small companies either. Their business is booming and a big part of the reason they receive less scrutiny is simply that Apple, as a larger company that does more things, has a larger target on their back.
Finally, do you really believe AirTags make it into the "creator wishes it had never been made" category?
You are assuming the person that is being unknowingly and unwilling tracked even knows what an Airtag is and is a Apple (iPhone) user/customer.
You assume I like having words put into my mouth. I specifically said "
The reality is that much of the tech that 99% of us rely on everyday can be used against us (Smartphones, SNS, smart devices/appliances/etc.) The best defense is educating users and providing them with the tools they need to know when someone is attempting to abuse the technology and stop them.
I wasn't referring to only Apple here. The tech industry as a whole needs to do more to educate users on the dangers/threats presented by the modern conveniences they rely on every day, and how they can better protect themselves while also creating better tools to keep people as safe as possible. That said, users do have a responsibility (to themselves) to know as much as possible about whats out there and what can they can do to protect themselves. You're not wrong that not knowing a product/technology exists isn't going to stop someone from abusing it to harm you.
Exactly Apple is forcing people to be placed in harms way without their consent. To justify its use because an app or service would not work is not showing concern for the population at large but rather Apples revenue stream.
So actually, you can opt your devices out of the Find My Network FYI. If enough people do that it will stop working. Feel free to opt out.
To assume someone is not serious about tracking/stalking you because they use an Airtag is equivalent to saying someone is not serious about physically hurting you because of the method they chose to do so.
Again. Not what I said. I was merely pointing out that if someone is serious enough about stalking someone, they'll find a way. It could be an AirTag, a Tile, rooting your android device, hacking your computer, compromising your passwords and monitoring your communications, or... all of the methods people used before modern IT. If someone is at risk they need to get help (most likely law enforcement involved,) because everyone has blind spots and stalkers escalate.
Apple has mass produced a low cost, simple to deploy product that people with bad intentions can use without safeguarding the unsuspecting victims.
I disagree that they haven't tried to safeguard victims. Apple has made and continues to make good faith efforts. Apple didn't want the bad PR they've already gotten and they certainly don't want the bad PR from an AirTag being misused to seriously harm or kill someone in a high profile case. That said, "mass-produced, low cost, simple to deploy product that can harm unsuspecting people" unfortunately describes a lot of modern IT.
You are now placing all of the burden on the victims. Not the first time that has been done.
Apparently pointing out avenues for help and suggesting someone who feels they may be being tracked get law enforcement involved is "placing the burden on the victim." Stalking is a real problem and victims deserve support. In the same vein I worry that modern technology creates a myriad of ways people can be tracked, manipulated, exploited, and in repressive regimes even worse. I want to see protections built into technologies that protect users from these things. But I don't think the answer is to just say "no" to progress.
Somehow I doubt we're going to see eye to eye on this but I will ask:
What do you think Apple could do to better safeguard users? Do you have any specific suggestions beyond just "shut it all down" ?
