Bluetooth trackers have been around for some time, but Apple significantly popularized them with the launch of its AirTag three years ago. Samsung followed suit later, and recently, Google joined the trend by adding support for Bluetooth tags to Android. Interestingly, Google had to delay the official support due to major privacy concerns associated with these trackers.
It collaborated with Apple last year to address these concerns. Both tech giants from the US have now announced the development of a new industry standard, named Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers (DULT), which allows iOS and Android devices to alert users if any unwanted tracker is tracking them.
Your Smartphone Will Now Alert You Of Unknown Trackers
Last year, Google and Apple announced their collaboration to develop a new industry standard to prevent the misuse of wireless trackers.
The companies have finally unveiled the outcome: an industry specification for Bluetooth tracking devices named Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers, or DULT, enabling Android and iOS devices to alert users if any compatible tag is being used to track them. Google has implemented this feature on devices running Android 6.0+, while Apple launched it with iOS 17.5 today.
Here's How The New Unwanted Tracking Alerts Will Work
Android users will receive a “Tracker traveling with you” alert on their phone if it detects an unwanted tracker moving with them for a prolonged period. iOS users will see an “[Item] Found Moving With You” alert for the same. Following the alert, users on both operating systems will be provided with options to view the tracker's identifier and play a sound on the tracker to locate it. Additionally, users can view instructions on how to disable the tracker.
The platform or device to which the tracking tag is paired does not matter; it just needs to be compatible with the new industry specification. Currently, only AirTags and Find My Device network-compatible tracking tags are supported. Google says that Jio, Chipolo, Motorola, eufy, and Pebblebee have joined hands and will make their future products compatible with the new specifications.
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Wireless Trackers Have Always Been Subject to Privacy Concerns
After Apple introduced AirTags, it incorporated privacy features into iOS, including a detection feature to find unknown AirTags nearby. For Android, it released a “Tracker Detect” app, allowing users to search for unwanted AirTags.
However, this was not an ideal solution for Android users, and many reported that the app sometimes failed to track AirTags. A standard was necessary to enable smartphone users, regardless of their operating system or platform, to track unwanted tags, regardless of the device they are paired with.
Thankfully, Apple and Google teamed up to work on a solution together. Last year, they announced that a new industry specification was in the works, which has now been officially released. Both companies in their respective press releases state that they'll continue to work with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to further develop and refine DULT.
