If you’ve ever heard of AirTags, or their less-popular brethren Tile or Eufy, the value add is fairly obvious: Put the tag on an item and if you lose it or it’s stolen, then nearby devices can ping the NFC tag on it to report that they’ve seen it. Unfortunately, several nefarious individuals discovered that rather than track down lost items, these tools can also be used to covertly track someone’s location if you can get an AirTag on a person or in a vehicle. Apple was quick to issue a fix that alerts iPhone users if an AirTag is away from its owner and seems to be following them for an extended period.
For Android users, the only option was third-party applications that used a lot of battery. That is until the release of Android 14. This version adds a built-in tracking monitor as part of their expanded safety and emergency tools. As of right now, the tool only works with AirTags, but they hope to expand to other manufacturers soon. Google is also working on expanding its system so that users can find any Bluetooth device they have paired to their phone, like headphones. Obviously, this will require devices to power on, but it means that if you find a missing device, you can potentially find a way to contact the owner. Apple and Google are working together with other tracker manufacturers to finalize an open standard so that all can be detected by any phone to prevent stalking.