Michigan Residents File Lawsuit Against Apple Over AirTag Stalking Risks

Two Southeast Michigan residents have filed a class-action style lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan alleging that Apple failed to adequately protect individuals from being stalked using AirTags. The plaintiffs claim that Apple knew the tracking accessories could be used for illicit surveillance when launched in April 2021 without sufficient safeguards. The lawsuit highlights incidents where plaintiffs were tracked by former romantic partners using concealed tracking devices.

The court document details specific allegations, including a Birmingham resident who has been tracked using concealed Apple AirTags since July 2026. Another plaintiff from Madison Heights discovered an AirTag hidden under their car seat shortly after moving away from an abusive relationship. The complaint states that Apple received over 40,000 stalking reports between April 2021 and April 2024, violating the Michigan Consumer Protection Act by misrepresenting safety features.

Apple maintains that AirTags are engineered with built-in deterrents against unwanted tracking, sending alerts to iOS and Android devices when an unknown tracker travels alongside a user. The tech giant also notes that location history is never stored on the physical device and data remains encrypted. The plaintiffs are seeking a court order to prevent Apple from continuing unlawful or unfair design and manufacturing practices regarding AirTags.