{"id":43474,"date":"2024-05-31T15:44:31","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T19:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=43474"},"modified":"2024-05-31T15:44:31","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T19:44:31","slug":"unwanted-tracking-alerts-in-ios-and-android","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2024\/05\/31\/unwanted-tracking-alerts-in-ios-and-android\/","title":{"rendered":"Unwanted Tracking Alerts in iOS and Android"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple<\/a> (Hacker News<\/a>, Slashdot<\/a>):<\/p>\n

Apple and Google have worked together to create an industry specification — Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers<\/a> — for Bluetooth tracking devices that makes it possible to alert users across both iOS and Android if such a device is unknowingly being used to track them. This will help mitigate the misuse of devices designed to help keep track of belongings. Today Apple is implementing this capability in iOS 17.5, and Google is now launching this capability on Android 6.0+ devices.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Android 6<\/a> is the equivalent of iOS 9<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

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With this new capability, users will now get an “[Item] Found Moving With You” alert on their device if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is seen moving with them over time, regardless of the platform the device is paired with.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

This is not<\/em> a unified platform for tracking, i.e. AirTag, Android, and Tile still use separate networks.<\/p>\n\n

Bruce Schneier<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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This seems like a good idea, but I worry about false alarms. If I am walking with a friend, will it alert if they have a Bluetooth tracking device in their pocket?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

As with anti-theft vs. anti-stalking, it seems like there are fundamental tensions<\/a> here that cannot be resolved.<\/p>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n