Sunshine State stalkers who use mobile apps and small Bluetooth devices like Airtags to track their victims could face up to five years in prison under legislation now up for a vote in the House of Representatives.
Judging by the support the bill received during its three stops in committee, it's a fine one to take.
The measure, titled "Tracking Devices and Apps" ( HB 401 ), would significantly increase the criminal penalties for installing or installing a tracking device or app on another person's property without their consent.
Today, doing so is punishable by up to 60 days in jail for a second-degree misdemeanor. HB 401, sponsored by Rep. Palm City. Toby Overdorf will increase the sentence thirty times, making the crime a third degree felony.
The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to send the bill to the floor.
The measure received unanimous support in its two previous stops in parliamentary committees. Its companion in the Senate ( SB 758 ) is sponsored by the Republican senator from Fort Myers. Jonathan Martin hasn't received a single vote yet.
On Wednesday, several members of the Republican Party's Freedom Caucus voiced their support for the legislation.
Overdorf filed his lawsuit in November, as the number of plaintiffs reaches 38 for failing to stop misuse of Apple's popular and relatively inexpensive AirTag products. This month, a federal judge said he believed the tech company was likely negligent in designing and tracking the product.
AirTags appeared in 2021 and cost $29 each. They're about the size of a half-dollar coin and offer "unprecedented accuracy, ease of use and affordability," Apple said. In most cases, they do not require installation.
Comparable products in the market include Tile, Chipolo, Cube and Samsung's SmartTag.
Apple has marketed AirTags as convenient devices for locating personal items, such as car keys, using an iPhone or a digital device location service instead of GPS to track. All of these features make it the "weapon of choice for stalkers and attackers," according to the 41-page complaint filed Dec. 5 in California.
The document mentions at least two murders in which the perpetrator used airtags to track his victims.
In 2022, a Miami-Dade County police officer was accused of trapping his ex-girlfriend with an airtag .
In May, Apple announced plans to partner with Google to combat unwanted tracking.
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