A press release from Apple just dropped where Apple is announcing that they have teamed up with Google to lead an “industry specification to address unwanted tracking.”:
Today Apple and Google jointly submitted a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices for unwanted tracking. The first-of-its-kind specification will allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across iOS and Android platforms. Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security, and Pebblebee have expressed support for the draft specification, which offers best practices and instructions for manufacturers, should they choose to build these capabilities into their products.
This is overdue to be frank as this has been an issue for a long time, and there needed to be a cross platform effort to make sure that Bluetooth trackers aren’t used for nefarious purposes. Apple and Google will release a production implementation of the specification for unwanted tracking alerts by the end of 2023. The technology will then be supported in future versions of iOS and Android. And I for one look forward to that day as we will be a little bit safer as a result.
UPDATE Roy Akerman, Co-Founder & CEO, Rezonate adds this comment:
“Collaboration between all leading providers can truly make a difference and reduce the risk of location tracking. Creating a new protocol is yet another step joining other actions previously announced of privacy as those of the chromium browser and cookie tracking. This reduce the chances for individual tracking for one of the most common protocols used in almost any device. Instead of suggesting limiting usage and then passing responsibility back to the user, Apple, Google, and several other manufacturers are assuming responsibility and embedding additional security controls directly to the device.”