Michigan women sue Apple over AirTag anti‑stalking failures

Apple faces a new lawsuit in the Eastern District of Michigan after two women claim its AirTag alerts never warned them of hidden trackers, despite the device’s built‑in anti‑stalking features [3]. The case highlights alleged gaps in Apple’s privacy protections and could force the company to revisit its tracking‑device safety design.

Alleged safety lapses

The complaint details two separate incidents. In the first, a former partner repeatedly appeared at the plaintiff’s locations in July 2024, eventually placing an AirTag in her vehicle; the 12‑year‑old son discovered it, and the woman threw the tag into a lake, yet she never received an iPhone alert that an unknown AirTag was moving with her [3]. The second plaintiff, who uses an Android phone, found an AirTag under her car’s back seat after moving into a new apartment in early 2023; she likewise reports no warning from Apple’s Android‑compatible detection app [4]. Both women argue that Apple’s “moving‑with‑you” notification, which should trigger when an AirTag is separated from its owner’s device, failed to function.

Legal and market context

Apple introduced AirTag in April 2021, promoting it as a privacy‑focused tracker, though it never officially claimed the product was “stalker‑proof” [2]. Prior lawsuits have targeted the same issue: a 2022 class‑action alleged inadequate anti‑stalking measures, and a 2024 suit lost class certification, prompting plaintiffs to file individual actions in California [3]. Apple has responded with firmware updates—most recently in April 2026—to improve the anti‑stalking sound and notification system [3]. However, the Michigan suit underscores that, despite these updates, users may still lack timely alerts, especially on Android devices where background scanning historically lagged [4].

Competitive implications

Apple’s AirTag competes with other Bluetooth trackers such as Samsung’s SmartTag and Chipolo’s devices, all of which now adhere to the “Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers” standard introduced jointly by Apple and Google in 2023 and implemented in iOS 17.5 and Android 6.0 [3]. If the lawsuit forces Apple to enhance its detection mechanisms, competitors may gain a relative advantage if their apps already provide more reliable alerts on non‑iOS platforms. Conversely, stricter safeguards could reinforce Apple’s privacy narrative, a key differentiator in the crowded tracker market.

What to watch

• Apple’s next firmware release – any further changes to AirTag alerts could signal a response to the lawsuit.
• Regulatory scrutiny – state consumer‑protection agencies may investigate Apple’s compliance with privacy standards.
• Potential settlement or court ruling – outcomes could set precedent for liability in consumer‑tracker designs.

The Michigan case puts Apple’s anti‑stalking promises under judicial review, raising questions about whether its current safeguards are sufficient for both iOS and Android users and how the company will adapt its product roadmap amid growing legal pressure.