Ohio Legislature Targets AirTags Abuse

Columbus, Ohio (WCMH) – State legislators take aim at techniques employed by catalytic converter thieves, Akron stalkers, and other tech-savvy accused criminals in Central Ohio. AirTag is used to maliciously monitor someone’s every move.

According to the bill’s sponsors, Senators Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Nicky Antonio, a Senate committee on Tuesday said tracking apps and devices like AirTag could be used without consent to other people or their property. We plan to reconsider the measures to prohibit the installation. (D-Lakewood).

“Obviously, technology can be great for convenience and safety, but it can also be dangerous, and that’s what we’re seeing with these tracking devices,” Manning said. Earlier this month, I told a fellow legislator.

Senate Bill 100, reintroduced after failing to pass the General Assembly last year, establishes the use of tracking devices for blackmail and stalking purposes as a unique offense under Ohio law.

The return of this measure comes after nationwide reports of unwanted tracking via AirTags was addressed by Apple, creators of the technology that designed pocket-sized tracking devices as a way for customers to find belongings such as wallets and keys. Occurs about a year after being

But the Akron woman’s harrowing discovery, first reported by a Cleveland television station, was that her ex-partner stuck an Apple AirTag to the bottom of her car to track her location, a lawmaker said was the practice. has come to be cracked down on.

“You can see how easy it is to slip it into someone’s pocket, purse, or other clothing without them knowing,” Antonio said while showing the AirTag to his colleagues.

looking into one of them Largest catalytic converter theft ring Det of the Groveport Police Department, Central Ohio. Josh Gilbert is currently a convicted suspect Tommy Cox, 42, said in multiple counties that he uses Apple devices to track more than 1,100 catalytic converters. said that it was found that

Cox reportedly attached an AirTag to the bottom of the same car as it swiped the catalytic converter, tracked its movements, and returned when the car owner replaced the part, generating at least $430,000 in profits. The theft cycle continued.

Attorney General Dave Yost sued In 2020, Apple stamped its approval on a bill last year over accusations of iPhone throttling, which could stop people from using $30 tracking devices for “malicious purposes.” I have proved that.

Jost also praised the bill’s sponsors for creating the illegal use of tracking devices as a crime of their own, as other crimes around stalking and intimidation have not yet taken into account “the advent of new technology.”

“Tagging a vehicle without the owner’s permission could prove to be a difficult case to prosecute under current law, as prosecution of stalkers usually requires demonstration of a pattern of behavior. It’s possible,” Yost said.

Manning said anyone convicted of a crime outlined in Senate Bill 100 is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in prison or a $1,000 fine. .

After receiving reports of unwanted tracking, Apple updated its software in February 2022 to warn users when unknown accessories such as AirTags they don’t own are being used nearby. Each AirTag has a serial number to help law enforcement prosecute illegal use.

“AirTag is not designed to track people or their belongings, but to help find personal items, and we condemn the abuse of our product as strongly as possible,” the company said in a statement. I’m here.

Senate Bill 100, as well as Rep. Tom Patton’s bill in the House, awaits further consideration in the General Assembly.