Back in 2021, Apple launched AirTag, a tracking device that can help find lost/forgotten items. Apple wasn’t the first player to do so as the likes of Tile, Eufy, and Samsung had devices that could help. But the AirTag quickly gained popularity and concern grew about whether it can be used as a stalking device.

There were many cases reported about AirTag and other tracking devices being misused. To combat the rising threat, in a rather surprising move, Apple and Google have come together.

Unwanted Tracking
The one big reason why the two tech companies have come together — and want others to come aboard — is that while locating lost objects is the objective, the misuse of it can be quite dangerous. Using this exact Precision Finding, anyone can put an AirTag or tracking device in your bag without you knowing and then stalk you or even harass you. As Dave Burke, Google’s vice president of engineering for Android said, “Bluetooth trackers have created tremendous user benefits, but they also bring the potential of unwanted tracking, which requires industrywide action to solve.”

What Is Apple And Google’s Plan?
The idea is to come up with an industry specification that prevents the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices. At any point in time, if these Bluetooth location-tracking devices note unauthorised tracking detection, alerts will be sent across iOS and Android platforms.

Apple Opened Its Ecosystem
The AirTag was one of the few devices that works with Android quite well. It doesn’t get all the features, but unwanted tracking is something Apple fixed a few months after AirTag was launched. Now, it is making it open to Android as well as other brands.

How Do Bluetooth Tracking Devices Work?
While Bluetooth remains at the heart of it, AirTag and other popular tracking use another form of technology. AirTag is equipped with a U1 chip using Ultra Wideband technology that allows iPhone users to find precise locations. Apple calls it Precision Finding and the iPhone leads you directly to the AirTag. Other devices also run and function on similar tracking methods. PRICETAG? AirTag and other tracking devices are relatively cheap. In fact, for Apple it is the cheapest product it sells. An AirTag costs Rs 3,490 whereas Tile tracking devices cost close to Rs 3,000.