Apple and Tile recently unveiled a solution to address potential privacy concerns with Bluetooth-based location tracking devices like Tile and AirTag. As a result, Google is now working on a built-in tracker detection capability for Android. The technology will be built into Android and would allow users to detect and locate unknown trackers in their immediate vicinity. To learn more, look into the specifics.
Android Will Have a Built-In Feature to Detect Bluetooth Trackers
Strings of code with references to the Bluetooth-tracker detection capability have been discovered in its Play services platform, according to a recent APK teardown by 9to5Google. Strings for “Unfamiliar device alerts” and “Unfamiliar Tag Detected Notification” in the newest version (v22.12.13) hint at the feature.
Additionally, strings like as “ATag,” “Finder tag,” and “Tile tag” relate to Apple’s AirTags and Tile’s offerings, respectively. This indicates that the Android functionality will be able to recognize Apple and Tile tracking devices.
According to the article, Google began developing the tracker-detection feature for Android in mid-March. As a result, it is currently in the early phases of development and has not yet been released to the public. However, we expect the feature to be included in the company’s future Android 13 upgrade.
The market for Bluetooth-based trackers exploded once Apple released the AirTags, as you may recall. However, Apple’s service came with a slew of privacy concerns for customers, including stealing and stalking. The business addressed issue in their most recent iOS 15.4 update, as well as the Android app “Tracker Detect.”
Consumers would appreciate a built-in tracker detection feature in Android, as Apple’s Tracker Detect app only works when it is accessed by users. Because the app lacks automatic detection and notification features, the feature is rarely used.
As a result, having a built-in tracker detection capability eliminates the need to manually download and use an app to discover nearby Bluetooth trackers. Instead, it would detect and alert users to any unknown tracking devices in their vicinity. What are your thoughts on Android’s new built-in tracker detection feature? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
