Two women are suing Apple for failing to take adequate measures to protect users like them from stalkers who use its AirTag tracking devices.

Lauren Hughes and another woman who did not want to be identified, filed the suit at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, claiming they had both been stalked by their former partners through the tracking devices.

The purpose of Apple’s new invention, AirTag, which costs $29, is to track personal objects like purses, remote controls and vehicle keys. However, advocacy groups working to support survivors of domestic violence had earlier issued a warning that stalkers may take advantage of the device and use it to keep tabs on their victims.

“With a price point of just $29, it has become the weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers,” the lawsuit said.

Ms Hughes, a resident of Travis County in Texas said her stalker had used an AirTag to track her movement in August 2021 shortly after she ended her three-month relationship.

Ms Hughes was horrified to learn that an unidentified AirTag was travelling with her despite having moved into a new neighbourhood to evade her stalker’s threatening calls and unwanted gifts. She discovered the AirTag was planted in the wheel well of her car.

Her discovery did not deter her stalker from uploading a picture of a Taco truck in her new neighbourhood and captioning it  “#airt2.0”, per the lawsuit filed by Ms Hughes and seen by New York Times. 

The other woman, referred to as Jane Doe, in the suit said she found an AirTag in her child’s school bag during summer which happened after a “contentious divorce.”

According to Ms Doe, her stalker was committed “to continuing to use AirTags to track, harass, and threaten her.”

The suit seeks compensation for Apple and Android users who have been improperly tracked and those who face the possibility of being tracked with an AirTag.