Tile adds anti-theft mode that makes its trackers undetectable, threatens $1 million fine...

[midian182]

In context: Tackers such as Apple's AirTags are becoming an increasingly popular way of keeping track of items such as car keys, but while they might discourage thefts, they've also made it a lot easier for people to follow someone without them realizing. Tile's new Anti-Theft Mode makes the trackers more difficult to discover, which is potentially bad news for thieves but good news for stalkers. However, Tile is threatening anyone who engages in the latter with a $1 million fine.

Like Apple, Tile previously introduced an anti-stalking feature called Scan and Secure for its Bluetooth trackers, enabling Tile app users to quickly scan for and detect nearby Tiles and Tile-enabled devices that may be traveling with them.

However, the feature meant thieves who stole items could easily check if they were carrying a concealed Tile tracker. To prevent this, the company has introduced Anti-Theft Mode, which makes Tile devices invisible to Scan and Secure. As Tile puts it, the mode "makes it easier to recover stolen valuables by making it harder for thieves to know an item is being tracked."

To stop stalkers from exploiting Anti-Theft Mode, Tile owners who want to activate the feature must undergo a stringent ID verification process. It involves syncing a government-issued ID with an account, submitting to a biometric scan to root out fake IDs, and acknowledging that personal information can and will be shared with law enforcement.

As a final deterrent, anyone convicted in a court of law of using a Tile tracking device to illegally track any individual without their knowledge or consent could face a $1 million fine as per the terms of service. The company wrote that "Tile is eliminating anonymity and bringing in the latest ID verification technology to its Anti-Theft Mode offering."

Tile claims its solution is better than what Apple offers with its AirTags: a notification that alerts users when a tracker is detected as possibly following them. "These proactive notifications can communicate to thieves that a tracker is on the stolen item, allowing them to remove it and making recovering the item less likely," claims Tile, which adds that "these anti-stalking measures have been criticized for being insufficient for victim protection."

Anti-Theft Mode can be activated for any Bluetooth-enabled tracker in Tile's lineup, including the Tile Pro, Tile Mate, Tile Slim, and Tile Sticker.

In April last year, a survey of police records showed that one-third of AirTag incidents involved stalking – most of the other reports were related to robberies and thefts.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/97645-tile-adds-anti-theft-mode-makes-trackers-undetectable.html

 

[psycros]

"Tile's new Anti-Theft Mode makes the trackers more difficult to discover, which is potentially bad news for thieves but good news for stalkers."

No, its GREAT news for thieves and stalkers. That's who is USING these devices the most. "Stalking" is most often about tagging someone's car and figuring out their movements so you can pick the best time to steal said vehicle. The other most common use is to plant one on the clothes or belongings of someone that you hope to do harm to and using it to track them just as you would a car. There's little point in putting one of these tags in a bag, for example, because once its stolen it will be discarded as soon as the valuables are extracted. Same goes for phone cases, so you can forget about the Tile telling the phone to rat out the thieves. Newer cars have this kind of security built in so there's no point in hiding one there, either, and those rely on cell service which is far more useful. About the only time it makes sense to use a tracking tag is if you can hide it inside something large enough that you know isn't going to be disassembled or tossed. How many people are going to take their Playstation apart to hide a tag inside? Furthermore, the Tile trackers only talk to other Tile trackers - they rely on Bluetooth because otherwise the battery would dead in no time. What's the chance of your wayward tile coming into contact with enough of its peers to provide a trail to your stolen goods? Apple's devices are far more likely to be found since they will talk to any nearby iPhones or the like with Bluetooth enabled. And if the thieves use their own Apple devices to find the Airtag then you've at least got an idea of where they are. If you bury that thing deep enough that they can't easily dig it out they'll probably abandon your purloined items.

I also question the use of "undetectable" when Tile is talking about simply requiring a background check on Tile users to let them use the tracking app. There are Tile detectors available online for $20 - no registration required. A better option is one of the trackers like Spytec makes which cost about the same or less than a Tile. Those actually use 4G, and since we're completely bathed in those signals the thieves have no chance of finding it electronically. Those types of trackers do typically require a subscription, however.

 

[kiwigraeme]

Is that $1 million fine as scary as the FBI coming after me for piracy in NZ?

 

[ferrellsl]

A manufacturer trying to fine users for misusing a product that they purchased is ludicrous. Manufacturers are not government entities empowered to fine ANYBODY. This is as ridiculous as General Motors trying to fine me for speeding in the Corvette that I purchased from them.

This is merely a misinformation campaign by Tile to make them appear as if they give a crap about how their product gets used/abused.

 

[human7]

A manufacturer trying to fine users for misusing a product that they purchased is ludicrous. Manufacturers are not government entities empowered to fine ANYBODY. This is as ridiculous as General Motors trying to fine me for speeding in the Corvette that I purchased from them.

This is merely a misinformation campaign by Tile to make them appear as if they give a crap about how their product gets used/abused.

Not sure about terms of service since those may or may not be regarded as contracts depending on the court of law, but if you signed a contract that had a clause that you pay the company 1 million if you are convicted in court for using their product for an illegal purpose, would that part of the contract be enforceable?

 

[kiwigraeme]

Not sure about terms of service since those may or may not be regarded as contracts depending on the court of law, but if you signed a contract that had a clause that you pay the company 1 million if you are convicted in court for using their product for an illegal purpose, would that part of the contract be enforceable?

Is all mumbo jumbo - and has no legal standing - you can not really control anybody outside a commercial settings - Commercial contracts will have have specific clauses . It will have something like You can that the such law and protection will not apply instead you will be subject to a $1 mullion penalty blah blah.

Plus this opens them up to liability - if ok to enforce this - then people abuse by their tiles should be able to sue them - Gun manufacturers don't want to be liable for your use - so they want a cut at point of sale

If you want to say take away someone's say 7 seven year period to bring redress( Stautue of limitation ) - you need to specifically mention the that Law , a general clause like you only have 90 days for redress won't normally cut it .
Most Contracts will explicitly , or implicitly be subject to the rules of the land.
Somethings you can have no binding no matter what the contract says - eg a contracts with a minor , or a fun sex slave contract with your partner - or employees statutory rights ( at least in the free world - who knows about The USA )

else imagine the can of worms - In eating the snickers bar you agree that you allow any agent of Mars Inc, to be able to stay as long as they want at your house - you must leave for the duration - you are still responsible for cleaning, utilities , mortgage , rent , rates and and any land taxes. The property must be fully insured including for our agents

 

[mcnabney]

Apple and Tile can't fine anybody.

You won't get fined for removing the tag from your mattress. You won't get fined for overclocking your CPU. You won't get fined if you don't use the recommended oil in your car. Just because a business is big doesn't mean that they can act as a government. Just because their drooling fanbois believe every dumb thing they say doesn't mean that they have any authority.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Is it April yet?
They are going to fine individuals?....with what authority lol?

 

[BuckarooBonzaii]

You'll be giving up a lot of your information just to use this damn thing, consent to law enforcement scrutiny without a supoena, and agree to a one million dollar fine if used criminally. No thanks but there will be a few that will use it. President Xi would be proud of this company but would probably say not good enough.

 

[rsmith222]

Apple and Tile can't fine anybody.

You won't get fined for removing the tag from your mattress. You won't get fined for overclocking your CPU. You won't get fined if you don't use the recommended oil in your car. Just because a business is big doesn't mean that they can act as a government. Just because their drooling fanbois believe every dumb thing they say doesn't mean that they have any authority.

Tell that to the mandatory arbitration, which a court recently said is legal to impose upon people via EULAs.