Apple, Google Combine Forces To Tackle Unwanted Tracking

Apple and Google on Tuesday proposed an industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices for unwanted tracking.

This specification from Google and Apple will allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorised tracking detection and alerts across iOS and Android platforms.

The draft proposal has incorporated feedback from device manufacturers, input from various safety and advocacy groups. This effort has been supported by Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security, and Pebblebee.

In a statement, Ron Huang, Apple’s vice president of Sensing and Connectivity said, “This new industry specification builds upon the AirTag protections, and through collaboration with Google results in a critical step forward to help combat unwanted tracking across iOS and Android.”

The proposed specification has been submitted as an Internet-Draft via the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), a leading standards development organisation.

Google and Apple have invited interested parties to review and comment on the draft over next three months. Following this period, the companies will address feedback and release a production implementation of the specification for unwanted tracking alerts by the end of 2023. This will then be supported in future versions of iOS and Android.