Apple sued by women who claim AirTag devices let stalkers track victims
Apple's AirTag accessories are used to find lost items
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Apple is being sued by a pair of women who say the company's AirTag tracking devices made it easier for former partners and other stalkers to track victims down.
The proposed class-action suit filed Monday in San Francisco federal court, Hughes et al v. Apple Inc., contends the tech giant has been unable to protect users from unwanted trafficking through AirTag since launching what it called the "stalker proof" device in April 2021.
Lauren Hughes said her boyfriend had tracked her down after placing an AirTag in her car's wheel well. The other plaintiff said her estranged husband tracked her after putting an AirTag in their child's backpack.
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An Apple AirTag device in San Francisco, Calif., March 14, 2022. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images / Getty Images)
While the $29 AirTags are supposed to be used for people to find lost items, law enforcement has said some people use them for criminal or malicious purposes.
Apple AirTag devices made in partnership with Hermes during the Spring Loaded virtual product launch in Tiskilwa, Ill., April 20, 2021. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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The women said AirTags had been linked to murders from Ohio and Indiana earlier in the year and are seeking unspecified damages for U.S. owners of iOS or Android-based accessories who were tracked by AirTag or are "at risk" of being stalked due to the company's alleged negligence.
A key ring containing an AirTag attached to a rucksack inside the Apple Store George Street April 30, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (James D. Morgan/Getty Images / Getty Images)
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The California-based company has acknowledged that "bad actors" have attempted to misuse AirTags and announced upgrades in February.
Apple did not immediately respond to FOX Business' request for comment.
Reuters contributed to this report.