(Feb 05, 2025) Rep. Lindsay Powell
HARRISBURG, Feb. 5 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, has reintroduced a bill that would ban the unauthorized tracking of victims using AirTags and similar devices. House Bill 407 would forbid the use of AirTags and similar technology for any nefarious motive, with an emphasis on remote stalking. Bad actors have utilized AirTags to put trackers on vehicles and pinpoint the location of their victims, but Pennsylvania still hasn’t outlined penalties for abusing this technology. “This bill cannot undo the damage—physical and mental—that victims have endured, but it is a step in the right direction to ensuring that would-be stalkers will never again be able to perpetrate such abuse in Pennsylvania without being held accountable by the law,” Powell said. “By embracing a proactive approach to regulating technology, we can harness its potential to foster a society where innovation thrives, and our neighbors remain safe.” Multiple plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple in December 2022 for remote stalking and despite the company’s attempt to dismiss the case, it is moving forward. AirTags, launched more than three years ago, is intended to help individuals find items that are often misplaced, such as keys, wallets or bookbags. House Bill 407, previously H.B. 416, passed with a near unanimous vote in last year’s session. The bill has been referred to the body’s Judiciary Read more