‘I didn’t want it anywhere near me’: how the Apple AirTag became a gift to stalkers

A gadget the size of a 10p coin, the AirTag was intended to help people find their keys. Instead it has facilitated a boom in terrifying behaviour from abusers

In March this year, Laura (not her real name) was in her car when a notification showed up on her phone, alerting her that an Apple AirTag had been detected nearby. I didn't know what it was or what it meant. I felt quite panicky," she says. I pulled over and still didn't know what I was looking at. My phone was showing a map of where I was with a trail of red dots indicating the route I'd just followed. I think I was in shock. I drove straight to a friend's house and we searched the car."

They emptied the glove compartment, opened the bonnet, checked underneath it and then behind the number plate. Eventually we found it under the carpet in the back - a tiny gadget the size of a 10-pence piece. I didn't want it anywhere near me."