Australian regulator says Apple’s AirTag batteries are too simple for teenagers to entry

Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned patrons to maintain Apple AirTags away from younger youngsters, saying it’s too simple to take away a doubtlessly harmful battery from the tiny location trackers.

An ACCC statement cautions that AirTags’ small lithium button batteries can severely injure youngsters in the event that they leak or grow to be caught in a baby’s throat, nostril, or ear. It raises explicit issues about Apple’s design making these batteries too readily accessible.

“The ACCC is concerned that the AirTag’s battery compartment could be accessible to young children, and the button battery removed with ease. In addition, the AirTag battery compartment’s lid does not always secure fully on closing, and a distinctive sound plays when an AirTag’s lid is being closed, suggesting the lid is secure when it may not be.”

As 9to5Mac notes, Australian retailer Officeworks removed AirTags from its cabinets final month, citing security issues. Apple has since added a brand new warning label to AirTag packaging, and the ACCC quotes Apple as saying that AirTags are “designed to meet international child safety standards.” The company states that it’s at present discussing issues of safety with Apple.

Many gadgets — together with AirTag opponents — use button batteries. Some corporations make them harder to take away; Tile trackers, as an illustration, require a paperclip or precision screwdriver to swap a battery. Australia just lately launched new, stricter general security guidelines for gadgets utilizing button batteries, and Apple isn’t the one firm within the ACCC’s sights. Its assertion says that it’s “assessing whether there are issues with button battery safety in similar Bluetooth tracking devices,” and corporations that don’t meet the brand new requirements can have till June 2022 to conform.