Apple has partnered with Google to add iOS and Android warnings about third-party Bluetooth trackers
Apple and Google have announced the introduction of a new industry specification designed to address the security concerns of Bluetooth tracking devices. Apple announced that it has implemented alerts for unknown, third-party Bluetooth tracking devices in iOS 17.5, while Google said it is starting to support the specification on Android devices running version 6.0 and above.
Here's What We Know
The Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers (DULT) standard is an initiative designed to prevent Bluetooth tracking devices like Apple AirTags from being abused to track people without their knowledge. The specification allows iOS and Android devices to detect and alert users when a tracker for tracking, is travelling with them but its owner is not.
Apple said users will receive a "Found item moving with you" alert on their iPhone if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device moves with them. They will then be able to view the device's ID, make the device make a sound so they can find it, and even learn how to turn it off.
Apple launched AirTags without the ability to alert Android users, but fixed that with an Android app a few months later. Google, too, recently introduced alerts about unwanted tracking in Android that AirTags detected.
Chipolo and Pebblebee have already announced support for the standard in their tags, and supported devices from Motorola, Jio and Eufy are expected soon. Samsung and Tile (who will also support their own "Find with Life360" network) have also previously committed to supporting it.
