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How exactly do you expect this to get regulated?
Using smart tags to track things is the intended use case. Exactly what they are meant for. That someone can toss one in another person's bag to stalk them is a case of someone misusing the technology, not an issue with the tech itself. And this tech is not Apple exclusive, it just makes better headlines.
There's no way to algorithmically detect when it's being used that way instead of to track something a user has legitimate reason to track.
We don't regulate pens just because you can stab someone in the eye with one, we regulate and build laws against physical assault.
I expect this will end up in a similar way, laws against stalking updated to cover the use of smart tags if they aren't covered already
Also, regarding Apple's "responsibility": Do we hold Dell responsible when someone uses a computer they built to commit cybercrime? Do we hold the manufacturer of kitchen knives responsible when they're used in a domestic homicide, claiming that they need to do something to prevent knives from being used in stabbings or cease selling knives until they can?
To be clear, fuck Apple and all their walled garden anti-consumer bullshit they pull. Terrible company.
That said, there are absolutely cases where an argument can be made that a manufacturer or creator of tech has responsibilty in regards to how it is used or misused but this isn't one of them.
I get your points although some of the examples given are not really comparable. What I am concerned with, is that with apple you have a network of millions of devices reporting to you. And that's the issue, it was sold as "this is great, everyone helps each other, no need to be critical about privacy here". These narratives are dangerous and we should stop and retreat if they blow up in our faces...
They are responsible, as this usage is clearly here by default and by design. This isn't the case with a pen or a computer. A tag has just one purpose, tracking, not multiple like a computer. This is a huge difference. When you come to privacy of a human, you must be precocious.
You can regulate it. It has not to be used as a stalking device by design. It still allows them on the market with this restriction. The second is to opt out by default from the system. People have to manually opt in in the settings, with a mandatory pop-up explaining the risk. It reduces the number of phone able to send back the location. Another regulation could stipulate the ban at the OS level from the functionality and make the download of an app mandatory.
All of these examples of regulation protect the basic citizen from the stalking capabilities, but don't ban the product itself. It mitigates the risks. It's good for the company and good for the citizen privacy.