Apple’s Airtags and similar devices like Tile are marketed as a useful tool for people to keep track of their belongings, from house keys to luggage and even your car.

The small, button-shaped devices were popularised by savvy travellers hoping to avoid lost luggage during last year’s flight delays and cancellations.

Pet owners have also reported using the tiny gadgets to keep track of their beloved dog or cat, though Apple has discouraged people from using the device for this purpose.

Airtags work by using Bluetooth wireless signals to report their presence to nearby Apple devices that are connected to the internet.

Once detected, the Airtag can piggyback off iPhones or iPads to alert its owner of its location.

At just $49, they are widely seen as cheap and accessible in comparison to other GPS devices on the market.

But just as Airtags have helped to ease people’s minds about their belongings and precious pets, they have also prompted concerns over stalking capabilities.

Survivors and domestic violence awareness groups claim in the wrong hands, the devices can be used to track people against their wishes.

‘The weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers’

Lauren Hughes’ life spiralled after she broke off a three-month relationship with her boyfriend in 2021.

She claims her ex began stalking her online, writing abusive posts on social media and creating fake profiles to try to follow her private accounts, in a class action complaint filed in California.

Two months later, his behaviour escalated to the point where he was calling her from blocked numbers and leaving threatening messages, as well as objects, at her house.

Ms Hughes feared for her safety and moved to a hotel nearby until she could find a new place to live.

She’d hoped to shake off her stalker, but she claims his behaviour did not stop.

After packing up her old apartment, she received a notification on her iPhone that an unknown Airtag was travelling near her at her hotel.

“Ms Hughes got the alert … but she didn’t know…