Google and Apple jointly announced on Monday (May 13) that the two IT giants have launched an industry standard to alert mobile phone users when they are being tracked by unknown Bluetooth devices.
According to the tech giants, iPhone and Android users will now start receiving alerts on their phones when someone is tracking them with an unfamiliar Bluetooth device. Apple and Google collaborated to develop an industry standard called “Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers.” Starting from Monday, Apple will introduce this feature in iOS 17.5, while Google will roll out the feature on Android 6.0+ devices.
Now, if Google and Apple users detect unknown Bluetooth tracking devices moving with them on these platforms, regardless of which platform their phones are paired with, they will receive alerts on their devices saying “[Item] Found Moving With You.”
This move signifies the latest effort by these platforms to address the drawbacks of wireless trackers, such as Apple’s AirTag. These trackers can show the location of lost or stolen items on a digital map, which is useful for finding these items but can also be exploited by criminals to track individuals.
Since the initial launch of AirTags in 2021, Apple has been collaborating with Google to integrate alerts and prompts into iOS and Android to prevent malicious use of this functionality by criminals. Android systems already have built-in signal indicators that specifically alert users using AirTags.
AirTag is just one of many Bluetooth trackers now available. Apple and Google allow third-party companies like Chipolo and Motorola to manufacture their own tracking devices. However, when third-party companies produce “Find My” lost item trackers, they must adhere to the specifications set by Apple and Google, requiring alerts to be issued for unwanted tracking devices.
Google and Apple have stated that they will continue to work with the Internet Engineering Task Force’s “Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers” industry standard group to establish the official standards for this technology. This ongoing cooperation aims to enhance user privacy and security when it comes to device tracking.