Stalking for Dummies
We have noted a number of times that Apple’s Air Tags and similar tagging devices have been used surreptitiously to track ex-wives, girlfriends, expensive cars and other items by stalkers and thieves without the knowledge of those involved, and Apple and others have taken this seriously by adding features that alert potential ‘trackees’ when they are near a device that they do not own or is moving with them. There are other even less expensive devices that can provide such illegal functions, but Mr. Lawrence Welch, formerly of Nashville and now a resident of the local jail, decided that he was going to up the ante a bit when trying to track his ex-girlfriend.
Mr. Welch, who is already facing two domestic assault charges from almost a year ago, found that his ex-girlfriend had turned off the Life360 app that they had previously been using to keep track of each other and began texting demands that she call him and reveal where she was. He did manage to track his ex down to the local Family Safety Center where she was filing an order of protection against him but was spotted leaning down beside the front passenger side tire of her vehicle and the police were called. When they examined the car they found that he had placed an Apple watch on the wheel, a bit more expensive (~$300) than an Air Tag (~$30). Upon questioning Mr. Welch admitted that the watch was his and was arrested.
While there is no anti-stalking feature on the Apple Watch, it is tied directly to an Apple account along with a cellular plan which makes it quite easy to trace back to an owner, and Apple does cooperate with law enforcement to identify owners based on the devices’ serial numbers, leading to where and when the watch was purchased, so the owners identity can be found. But there is no anti-stalking protection on the Apple Watch as it is likely that Apple would not expect someone to use a $300 watch as a tag, so while Mr. Welch inadvertently found a way to track his ex that would not have alerted her, it was both accidental and a ridiculous use of an Apple Watch. Perhaps Apple will add some protection to a Watch OS upgrade when this incident gets back to them but for now be on the lookout for an Apple Watch attached to your tire if you are having trouble with an ex-boyfriend…
Mr. Welch, who is already facing two domestic assault charges from almost a year ago, found that his ex-girlfriend had turned off the Life360 app that they had previously been using to keep track of each other and began texting demands that she call him and reveal where she was. He did manage to track his ex down to the local Family Safety Center where she was filing an order of protection against him but was spotted leaning down beside the front passenger side tire of her vehicle and the police were called. When they examined the car they found that he had placed an Apple watch on the wheel, a bit more expensive (~$300) than an Air Tag (~$30). Upon questioning Mr. Welch admitted that the watch was his and was arrested.
While there is no anti-stalking feature on the Apple Watch, it is tied directly to an Apple account along with a cellular plan which makes it quite easy to trace back to an owner, and Apple does cooperate with law enforcement to identify owners based on the devices’ serial numbers, leading to where and when the watch was purchased, so the owners identity can be found. But there is no anti-stalking protection on the Apple Watch as it is likely that Apple would not expect someone to use a $300 watch as a tag, so while Mr. Welch inadvertently found a way to track his ex that would not have alerted her, it was both accidental and a ridiculous use of an Apple Watch. Perhaps Apple will add some protection to a Watch OS upgrade when this incident gets back to them but for now be on the lookout for an Apple Watch attached to your tire if you are having trouble with an ex-boyfriend…
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