Apple to Address Privacy Concerns with Recently Launched AirTags

In an official statement issued today, Apple has said that it is working to address the privacy concerns raised with its AirTag trackers, and will be changing the time they play an alert when separated from their owner (via CNET).

“The recent introduction of AirTag included industry-first proactive features that discourage unwanted tracking,” Apple said in a statement. The company added that it is rolling out updates to its AirTags, changing the window of time they’ll make noises when potentially being used to track another person.

Moreover, Apple said that it will also be releasing an app for Android devices later this year, that will help people “detect” an AirTag or Find My network-enabled device that may also be unsuspectedly “traveling” with them.

“Apple believes it’s creating a deterrent to abuse by adjusting the amount of time before an AirTag alerts a nonowner to its presence, effectively introducing uncertainty to how they will work. The company’s also already built in warnings into iPhones to alert people about AirTags traveling with them that they may not be aware of.”

Apple said its updates for AirTags began Thursday, and will be automatically applied when in range of an iPhone.