Last year Google and Apple announced that they had teamed up to address unwanted tracking through AirTags and other trackers, working on a specification fit for the purpose. Then, a few months later, Google rolled out the unwanted tracker alerts to devices running Android 6.0 and later, and also held back a rollout of its very own Find My Device network until Apple implements similar protections for unwanted tracking in iOS.
It’s taken a very, very long time, but now it finally seems like we’re almost there. Google has sent out an email to some Android users telling them that the long-awaited Find My Device network is launching in a matter of days.
The email says “in three days” specifically, which could mean it’s going live this Sunday, or, more likely, next Monday, on April 8. Here’s what Google is saying in the email:
With the new Find My Device network, you’ll be able to locate your devices even if they’re offline. You can also find any compatible Fast Pair accessories when they’re disconnected from your device. This includes compatible earbuds and headphones, and trackers that you can attach to your wallet, keys, or bike. You’ll get a notification on your Android devices when this feature is turned on in 3 days. Until then, you can opt out of the network through Find My Device on the web.
You can opt out of the tracking network’s capabilities early by going to this link, which is also shared in the aforementioned email – but this only works if you yourself have received such an email from Google. When you choose a setting (either leaving the default “Locate with the Find My Device network” on or opting out, note that this applies to all Android devices linked to that particular Google account.
If you’re wondering what may have prompted this rather impromptu rollout, it seems like iOS 17.5 finally adds the required unwanted tracking protections that were first discussed with Google in 2023. Google’s launch timeline makes us believe that iOS 17.5 is going to be released next Monday, and thus, all the pieces of the puzzle are almost in place.
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