Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the malicious use of Apple AirTags and similar devices to stalk victims without their knowledge; what estimate they have made of the prevalence of this behaviour; and what discussions they have had, or plan to have, with the manufacturers of such devices in order to prevent such stalking.

Stalking is a terrible crime which causes significant harm to victims. The Government is committed to protecting and supporting victims of stalking and is determined to do everything it can to stop perpetrators at the earliest opportunity.

I am aware of the reports of Apple AirTags being used by perpetrators to stalk their victims. Home Office officials have previously engaged with Apple on this issue and discussed Apple’s responses to the concerns raised and the measures it has taken with a view to ensuring safeguarding. We do not have data on the prevalence of stalking related to such devices.

In order to improve our understanding of those who perpetrate abuse and identify what works to tackle their behaviour, the Home Office has invested over £2 million for various research projects since 2020, including research that specifically considered the way perpetrators may use technology to facilitate their abuse.