IT House February 23 news, today Apple released the latest iOS 15.4 / iPadOS 15.4 Beta 4 system update, the new version supports anti-tracking AirTag changes, providing a setting warning that using AirTag or other "Find My" link items without consent to track someone is a crime.
"You can use the Find My network to find this item," the settings screen reads. "In many parts of the world, it is a crime to use this item to track others without consent. This project aims to be discovered by victims and to enable law enforcement to request identifying information about the owner."
With this warning, Apple wants to make it clear to users who use third-party companies' AirTags and Find My compatible devices as tracking tools that such usage is illegal and has criminal implications. Apple said earlier this month that the warning would be added to the upcoming update.
Apple also said it would fix a bug that caused confusion in unnecessary tracking, a change that could also appear in a new beta. AirPods may cause a warning of "Unknown Accessory Alert", which some users believe is a notification from AirTag. AirTags can't display a "Unknown accessory detected" message, which is caused by AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods 3, and in some cases, Find My network accessories.
In the future, Apple will ensure that all accessories recognize them correctly so that there is no confusion about non-AirTag devices.
In addition, in the current iOS 15.4 Beta 4 beta, Apple has also made some small adjustments to the changes in information transmission. In the Find Me app, there is no longer the option to toggle the item safety alert off, while Apple offers the Customize Find Me Notification and Custom Tracking Notification options.
Currently, both options redirect to the "Notifications" option of the Find My app, and it's unclear if Apple will change that in the future, offering more granular settings for users to choose from.
Later this year, Apple plans to roll out more anti-tracking measures, including support for precise lookups for unknown AirTags, display alerts that pop up whenever there is a sound, and louder AirTag sound announcements.