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A newly devised industry specification jointly developed by Apple and Google to address the safety concerns associated with Bluetooth tracking devices has now been launched.
This was disclosed in an announcement made by Apple, saying the implementation of alerts for unknown third-party Bluetooth trackers in iOS 17.5 has been rolled out, while Google revealed the rollout of support for the specification across Android devices running 6.0 or higher.
The specification, named Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers (DULT), is a cross-platform initiative aimed at preventing the misuse of Bluetooth trackers like Apple AirTags to track individuals without their consent. DULT enables iOS and Android devices to detect and alert users when a tracker adhering to the standard is detected in their vicinity without authorization.
According to Apple's press release, users will receive an "[Item] Found Moving With You" alert on their iPhones if an unfamiliar Bluetooth tracking device is detected moving with them "over time, regardless of the platform the device is paired with."
Users will have the ability to view the tracker's identifier, trigger the tracker to emit a sound for locating purposes and obtain instructions on how to disable it.
While Apple initially launched AirTags without the capability to alert Android users if they were being followed, this was rectified with the introduction of an Android app a few months later.
Google incorporated unwanted tracking alerts into Android, detecting AirTags starting in July 2023. However, with Google's expanded Find My Device network now operational and being rolled out to Android users, the potential for third-party devices to surreptitiously track individuals may escalate.
To address valid privacy concerns, Google has announced its intention to wait for Apple to implement DULT in its ecosystem before integrating support for Bluetooth tracker tags into the Find My Device network. With Apple's adoption of the standard in iOS, it is anticipated that many of these new Bluetooth trackers will debut shortly.
Companies such as Chipolo and Pebblebee have already unveiled tags, while devices from Motorola, Jio, and Eufy are anticipated in the near future. All of these manufacturers have pledged to support the DULT standard, with Samsung and Tile, which will also support its own Find with Life360 network, previously committing to its adoption.
