Apple and Google Partner on Location Tracking Protection

I know, it reads like an April Fools, but Apple and Google announced today that they are partnering to create industry standards preventing the abuse of location tracking devices.

“Today, Apple and Google jointly submitted a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices for unwanted tracking,” the Apple announcement explains. “The first-of-its-kind specification will allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across iOS and Android platforms. Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security, and Pebblebee have expressed support for the draft specification, which offers best practices and instructions for manufacturers, should they choose to build these capabilities into their products.”

This specification is based on work that came out of Apple’s horrible experience with AirTag stalking, where the Tile-like devices have been used by bad actors to illegally track their victims. And with Google planning a similar product line, it’s perhaps not surprising that the owner of the other dominant mobile platform has joined forces with Apple.

“Bluetooth trackers have created tremendous user benefits, but they also bring the potential of unwanted tracking, which requires industrywide action to solve,” Google vice president Dave Burke says. “Android has an unwavering commitment to protecting users, and will continue to develop strong safeguards and collaborate with the industry to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth tracking devices.”

The companies released a draft version of the Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers specification through the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and they are asking interested parties to comment on and contribute to it over the next three months. After that, Apple and Google will together address the feedback, and then they will release a production implementation of the specification for unwanted tracking alerts by the end of 2023. This technology will then be supported in future versions of Android and iOS.