Apple faced a legal setback when a judge rejected their attempt to dismiss a lawsuit claiming that their AirTag devices help stalkers track people. US District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco decided on Friday that three plaintiffs in the case had valid claims about negligence and product liability, although he rejected some others.
About three dozen people brought the lawsuit, alleging that Apple knew about the risks of its AirTags and could be held responsible for harm caused by their misuse. The plaintiffs argued that the AirTag’s safety features were inadequate and led to injuries during stalking incidents. Judge Chhabria acknowledged these concerns, saying it’s too early to determine conclusively if Apple’s safety measures were sufficient.
Apple lost a bid to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that its AirTag devices help stalkers track their victims https://t.co/j1YxoYZ7e4
— Bloomberg (@business) March 15, 2024
Apple argued that it had implemented advanced safety measures in the AirTag and shouldn’t be responsible for misuse. However, the judge’s ruling lets the three plaintiffs continue with their claims.
The lawsuit accused Apple of negligently releasing the AirTag despite warnings that it could be used for surveillance. The complaint noted the low $29 price, making it accessible to stalkers and abusers.
Although Apple added features to alert users if they were being tracked by an AirTag, the lawsuit argued that these measures weren’t enough to prevent misuse.
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