The development of the Apple and Google standard to locate unwanted Bluetooth trackers from all smartphones is finally here! A good way to fight against spying and harassment!

The development of the Apple and Google standard to locate unwanted Bluetooth trackers from all smartphones is finally here! A good way to fight against spying and harassment!

That’s it, Google and Apple have finally been able to create an industry standard to automatically alert iOS and Android users if a third-party Bluetooth tracker is tracking them. Called Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers, it has been long awaited, given the scale of the abuses caused by AirTags and company. As Apple announced in a Canadian press release, this function will be integrated into iOS 17.5, and Google is currently rolling it out in Android 6 and above. Thanks to it, users will now receive an alert “[Objet] found moving with you” on their device if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is spotted moving with them, regardless of the platform the device is paired with. On the iPhone side, the device will make the tracker emit a sound to make it easier to find, then display instructions to deactivate it.

Bluetooth trackers: formidable cookies

Popularized by Apple’s AirTag, Bluetooth GPS trackers have been around for a long time. These little cases fit anywhere – on a set of keys, at the bottom of a bag, on a suitcase, in a pocket, in a wallet, under a two-wheeler saddle, in a car, etc. – and allow its owner to locate them precisely in a few moments. Practical for finding your belongings in the event of loss or theft! But, as is often the case with technology, the little gadget was quickly diverted from its initial use. And malicious people started using it for espionage purposes. It is enough to discreetly slip one into luggage or under a vehicle to track someone, without their knowledge. And always know where it is, by locating it on a smartphone in real time.

Apple had also attracted a lot of criticism on this subject following the launch of the AirTag, which forced the company to introduce tools for detecting unwanted trackers (see our article). For its part, Google also rolled out unwanted tracker alerts in Android earlier this year, but they are based on a custom implementation. This was just a first step towards greater interoperability between iOS and Android platforms on one side, and Bluetooth trackers on the other.

Bluetooth tracker detection: avoid spying and harassment

“Bluetooth trackers have created huge benefits for users, but they also present the potential for unwanted tracking, which requires industry-wide action to resolve”declared Dave Burke, Google’s vice president of engineering for Android, in May 2023. “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”.

Also, last year, Apple and Google announced the development of a new common specification allowing iOS and Android smartphones to automatically detect the famous unknown Bluetooth trackers. Most tracker manufacturers, namely Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy Security and Pebblebee, have joined the project. The goal of this initiative was to ensure that all tags were discoverable by all smartphones, regardless of their operating system. Apple was waiting for this new standard to be finalized before rolling out unwanted tracking alerts in iOS, while Google was waiting for Apple to do so before rolling out the new Find My Device network on Android. Result: the process was a little delayed. Finally, the integration version of the standard was released on December 20 – it was previously reported that it should be completed by the end of 2023.