Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, has publicly criticized Apple Inc.’s AAPL anti-theft "Find My" service. Sweeney claimed that the service, designed to help users locate their lost or stolen devices, infringes on the privacy of the person who stole his MacBook.
What Happened: Sweeney expressed his disapproval of Apple’s Find My service in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
"This feature is super creepy surveillance tech and shouldn't exist."
After using the Find My service to locate his stolen MacBook, Sweeney was taken aback when the service revealed the thief’s residence.
Despite criticism from other X users who pointed out that Find My is a tracker for his computer, not surveillance of the thief, Sweeney insisted that tracking a device in someone’s possession equates to tracking the person, thereby violating their privacy.
See Also: Apple Rolls Out iOS 18.1 Developer Beta With Apple Intelligence, Ahead Of Q3 Earnings
However, Sweeney’s argument contradicts established legal precedent. US courts have consistently ruled that device tracking does not violate a thief’s right to privacy.
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Why It Matters: Apple’s Find My service has been instrumental in helping users recover their stolen devices, as evidenced by a recent incident where an iPhone user managed to recover their stolen device from a Walmart EcoATM kiosk.
Furthermore, the service has shed light on the tactics of thieves who target Apple devices. A serial iPhone thief revealed how he and his team stole hundreds of iPhones, demonstrating the need for robust tracking features.
However, the service has also been criticized for its potential misuse, with a Texas man reporting multiple strangers arriving at his doorstep due to faulty Maps data.
Despite the controversy, device tracking services continue to evolve, with Android users now able to access AirTag-like trackers compatible with the Find My Device network.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Apple
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