Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has been sued by two women who said its AirTag devices have made it easier for their former partners and other stalkers to track down victims.
In a proposed class action filed on Monday in San Francisco federal court, the women said Apple has been unable to protect people from unwanted trafficking through AirTag since launching what it called the "stalker proof" device in April 2021.
Starting at $29, AirTags are 1-1/4 inches (3.2 cm) in diameter, and intended to be slipped into or attached to keys, wallets, backpacks and other items so people can find them when they are lost.
But privacy experts and law enforcement have said some people use Airtags for criminal or malicious purposes.
The plaintiffs called AirTag "the weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers," and said it has been linked to murders this year of women from Akron, Ohio and Indianapolis.