- ⏰ 1 hour ago
- Medhi Naitmazi
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React
A new law is in the works in Ohio to criminalize the use of devices such as AirTags to track people without their consent. The new legislation would prohibit people from installing trackers on another person’s property without their consent. It follows a significant increase in complaints of harassment via AirTags.
Too many bullying cases in Ohio
Here is an excerpt from the report of 3News :
A new bill introduced in the Ohio House would ban electronic tracking without a person’s consent.
It follows a 3News Investigates report on the growing use of devices such as Apple AirTags by stalkers, which often escapes Ohio laws.
Investigation finds loopholes in Ohio law ‘that would allow stalkers to secretly stalk someone’, potentially ‘without punishment’, if there has been no prior stalking or domestic violence behavior . The new law therefore seeks to change this and states:
Except as provided in clause (B)(3) of this section, no one shall knowingly install a tracking device or application on another person’s property without that person’s consent.
The amendment to the law includes provisions for withdrawing consent to tracking in cases such as divorce. Lawyer Emilia Strong Sykes told the outlet:
I was unaware of this issue until you contacted us, and I am so grateful to you for standing up for one of our clients, who was very nervous, scared and confused that someone one could commit such an offensive act towards him. We are now acting on his behalf, as well as on behalf of others who have faced this type of situation, or who may in the future.
While Apple’s AirTags are great accessories for keeping track of things like luggage and personal property and have been used to help find lost or stolen items worth thousands of dollars in some cases, the other side of the coin is that people use these same AirTags to stalk and track victims, often unfortunately in the context of arguments or domestic relationships. This is not the first time that a limitation of the use of AirTags has been mentioned, with some even considering a ban on sales.
Apple announced enhanced measures to try to prevent AirTag harassment earlier this year, including an information screen and a louder ringtone in Lost Mode.
PS : AirTags are on sale.
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