A Pennsylvania state representative, Democrat John Galloway, is introducing legislation that would seek to prohibit Apple AirTags from being used outside of their intended use as a locator for misplaced personal items.
“Since Apple AirTags were introduced in April 2021, I have seen many articles about predators placing AirTags onto victims’ vehicles, purses and even coat pockets to track their location,” said Galloway (D-Bucks) in a statement.
“The AirTag’s precision finding tool should only be used to locate the owner’s property, such as keys, wallet, or bookbag, as was the original intention of the product,” Galloway added. “My legislation would protect Pennsylvanians by making sure that this unwarranted act is addressed by updating our Crimes Code to prohibit someone from tracking one’s location or their belongings without consent.”
The legislation is now being circulated for co-sponsors and will be introduced soon.
MacDailyNews Take: Doesn’t Pennsylvania state law already prohibit stalking? If not, why not?
If so, beware unintended consequences of passing laws in the name of “doing something,” lest poorly-written and/or overly-restrictive laws prohibit law-abiding AirTags users from attaching their item trackers to vehicles, pets, or other “prohibited items” that they own.
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And the criminal learns about the law and concludes “Damm, I cannot proceed with the illicit idea I planned with the Airtag.”
I guess I’ll go volunteer at the Church instead.
From a song by de/Vision
“When they argue endlessly, to conceal that’s nothing’s done”
Hard to know how this will work out. Unlikely to prevent bad behavior. On the other hand, this may allow prosecutions of bad actors who might otherwise get off.
Proposal: “My legislation would protect Pennsylvanians by making sure that this unwarranted act is addressed by updating our Crimes Code to prohibit someone from tracking one’s location or their belongings without consent.”
Support the proposal and will go further Congress should enact a much BROADER law with serious consequences…