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Written question asked by Marquess of Lothian (Conservative) on Wednesday, 29 March 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 14 April 2023. It was answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative) on Friday, 14 April 2023 on behalf of the Home Office.

Stalking

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the malicious use of Apple AirTags and similar devices to stalk victims without their knowledge; what estimate they have made of the prevalence of this behaviour; and what discussions they have had, or plan to have, with the manufacturers of such devices in order to prevent such stalking.

Answer

Stalking is a terrible crime which causes significant harm to victims. The Government is committed to protecting and supporting victims of stalking and is determined to do everything it can to stop perpetrators at the earliest opportunity.

I am aware of the reports of Apple AirTags being used by perpetrators to stalk their victims. Home Office officials have previously engaged with Apple on this issue and discussed Apple’s responses to the concerns raised and the measures it has taken with a view to ensuring safeguarding. We do not have data on the prevalence of stalking related to such devices.

In order to improve our understanding of those who perpetrate abuse and identify what works to tackle their behaviour, the Home Office has invested over £2 million for various research projects since 2020, including research that specifically considered the way perpetrators may use technology to facilitate their abuse.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL7008
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Stalking Smart devices
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk