Apple Inc. has been sued by two women who said its AirTag devices made it easier for their former partners and other stalkers to track down victims.
In a proposed class action lawsuit filed Monday in San Francisco federal court, the women say Apple has been unable to protect people from unwanted trafficking via AirTags since launching a “stalker-proof” device in April 2021.
Starting at $29, AirTags are 1-1/4 inches (3.2 centimeters) in diameter, and are intended to be clipped or attached to keys, purses, backpacks and other items so people can find them if they get lost.
But privacy experts and law enforcement have said that some people use AirTags for criminal or malicious purposes.
The plaintiffs called the AirTag “the weapon of choice for stalkers and abusers,” and said it has been linked to the murders of women in Akron, Ohio, and Indianapolis this year.
Monday’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for US owners of iOS or Android-based devices that were tracked by AirTag or that were “at risk” because of Apple’s alleged negligence.
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
The Cupertino, California-based company has acknowledged that “bad actors” have tried to abuse AirTags.
In February, Apple announced planned upgrades to make the devices easier to find, and swiftly warned users that unidentified AirTags could “travel with them.”
One of the plaintiffs in Monday’s lawsuit, Lauren Hughes, said her ex-boyfriend learned where she had gone to avoid after she planted an airtag in the wheel well of her car.
She said she later posted a photo of a taco truck from her new neighborhood online, and included a winking emoji with the hashtag “#airt2.0”.
The second plaintiff, Jane Doe, said her estranged husband tracked her down after putting an airtag on their baby bag.
The case is Hughes et al v. Apple Inc., US District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-07668.
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