Free Republic

A Key West man is accused of placing Apple AirTags on two peoples’ cars to illegally track them, according to police. Key West detectives’ investigation dates to Nov. 8, when two people went to police after receiving cellphone notifications alerting them that an unrecognized AirTag was detected near them and tracking their location, said Alyson Crean, a spokesperson for the police department. Apple introduced the AirTag in 2021 to help people track their belongings. But criminals soon began using the small devices to illegally stalk victims. Since then, Apple updated its security measures so a person’s iPhone would alert them...

MERCEDES has sparked a privacy row by admitting it spies on drivers with tracking devices covertly installed in its cars. The secret sensors, fitted to all new and used motors sold by the firm’s dealers, pinpoint the vehicle’s exact location. And it insists they are only activated in “extreme circumstances” — when finance customers have defaulted on their payments. But it admits sharing car owner information and vehicle location details with third-party bailiffs and recovery firms who repossess the cars. But Mercedes customers who buy cars through the official financial arm give their permission when signing lengthy terms and conditions...

Note: Photos included. SNIPPET: "The representative of Ali Khamenei in the IRGC, Mojtaba Zolnour, said that the maneuvers were meant to convey a message of peace to the neighboring countries. The head of the Qatari military delegation, 'Abd Al-Rahim Ibrahim Al-Janahi, who was present at the maneuvers as an observer, said that Qatar would like to benefit from Iran's military expertise and carry out joint maneuvers with it." SNIPPET: "Source: Fars (Iran), April 25, 2010; Press TV, Fars, IRNA (Iran), April 24, 2010; Al-Alam (Iran), April 23, 2010"

Sacramento -- Tens of thousands of California sex offenders would be forced to wear electronic tracking devices for the rest of their lives under two new bills backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bills, which also would boost punishment for a wide range of sex offenses, "will give California the strictest laws and the toughest penalties for the worst crimes,'' he said Tuesday. "We want these criminals off the streets and away from our schools and children.'' The governor's Capitol news conference turned up the heat on the Democratic-led Legislature, where many of the measures contained in the bills have...