Apple Faces 30+ Lawsuits Over AirTag Stalking After Class Action Denied

Summary

Apple is facing more than 30 individual lawsuits from people claiming to have been stalked using AirTags, following the denial of class certification in a 2022 lawsuit (Hughes v. Apple). The plaintiffs allege that Apple released AirTags while aware of the stalking risks and failed to implement adequate safeguards, despite receiving over 40,000 stalking reports between April 2021 and April 2024.

According to internal Apple documents uncovered in the original lawsuit, the company knew its safeguards would only "deter as opposed to prevent malicious use" and acknowledged it "should have consulted domestic abuse organizations" before shipping the product. The lawsuits cite multiple documented cases where AirTags were used for stalking, including incidents that ended in murder, claiming the devices "revolutionized the scope, breadth, and ease of location-based stalking."

Apple has implemented several anti-stalking measures, including cross-platform notifications and sound alerts when an AirTag is nearby. However, plaintiffs argue these protections are inadequate, citing 4-to-8-hour delays in notifications and pointing out that the speaker can be removed—with modified silent AirTags even available for purchase online. Each plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, attorney's fees, and a court order preventing Apple from continuing allegedly unlawful business practices.

• Current anti-stalking measures like notifications have delays, and the AirTag speaker can be removed or disabled
• Judge overseeing original case advised plaintiffs to file individual lawsuits within 28 days of class certification denial