Apple Opposes Centralization of AirTag Stalking Lawsuits Brought in Federal Courts

Company claims it has reached settlements in about 20 Apple AirTag stalking lawsuits over the last several months without coordinated proceedings.

Apple opposes proposed consolidation of federal lawsuits filed by consumers who say AirTag devices were used to stalk them, arguing each case involves unique circumstances beyond the devices’ design that would make centralization inefficient.

The Apple AirTag is a device about the size of a quarter, which is designed to be placed in luggage or wallets to help the user track an item through the company’s “FindMy” App if that item gets lost. Using millions of other Apple devices as reference points, the products are extremely accurate.

However, plaintiffs who have filed Apple stalking lawsuits claim the small size and lack of safety features allows others to easily hide AirTags in someone’s belongings or vehicle without being noticed, giving predators or abusers the ability to track individuals for nefarious purposes without warning.

Apple AirTag Stalking Risks

If an AirTag is moving in the vicinity of another Apple device, such as an iPhone or iPad, the device will post a notification indicating an AirTag is in use nearby. However, when AirTags were first introduced, it took up to 72 hours for Apple devices to warn that an AirTag had been detected. In addition, the warning was only given to those who had a device using the Apple iOS operating system. Eventually, the delay was reduced to 24 hours.

Apple also continued to market AirTags after domestic violence organizations and technology experts warned the devices could be exploited to secretly monitor victims. The company allegedly received more than 40,000 AirTag stalking-related complaints between 2021 and 2024, at times averaging more than 1,000 reports per month.

Despite those reports, Apple largely relied on software updates and other safety measures to address the risks. Lawsuits allege those changes failed to adequately protect individuals from continued stalking and unwanted tracking.

AirTag Lawsuit Consolidation

Earlier this month, a group of plaintiffs filed a motion with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) calling for all federal Apple stalking lawsuits to be centralized in the District of Arizona before U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa. Plaintiffs claim coordinated pretrial proceedings would eliminate duplicative discovery, avoid inconsistent rulings and improve efficiency as the number of lawsuits continues to grow.

At the time of the filing on August 4, there were already more than 20 individual Apple lawsuits over AirTag stalking problems pending in at least 17 federal districts, with additional cases expected to be filed. Another plaintiff, Brittany Alowonee, filed a response (PDF) in support of centralization on August 25.

Apple itself issued a response in opposition (PDF) to consolidation on the same day, claiming that the AirTag stalking lawsuits involve far too individualized circumstances to find any efficiency in centralization. Company attorneys also argued that many of the cases are already too advanced toward resolution.

“Centralizing now jeopardizes the parties’ recent progress to global resolution and risks slowing down the more advanced Preexisting Cases.”

–Apple Inc., Opposition to the Motion for Transfer

The company’s response claims it has reached 20 AirTag lawsuit settlements in the last two months, including about nine that plaintiffs originally requested be added into the proposed multidistrict litigation (MDL). It called for the JPML to reject the plaintiffs’ petition and allow the litigation to move forward as individual cases.

However, if the JPML moves forward with consolidation, Apple requests the litigation be consolidated in the Middle District of Florida, which is hosting at least three of the pending lawsuits.

Apple AirTag Stalking Lawyers

The JPML is scheduled to hear oral arguments on AirTag centralization at a hearing session scheduled for September 24 in Chicago. In the meantime, Apple AirTag lawyers continue to investigate claims by individuals who suffered any of the following due to the trackers:

• Stalking
• Harassment
• Domestic violence
• Other criminal conduct

These investigations are being conducted on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront legal fees or expenses.

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