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Comment by slg | Hacker News Reader

Considering theft is a property crime and stalking is often a prelude to much worse, I think they made the right choice.

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I'm not taking any position on this, but some data to chew on concerning the US. There are roughly fourteen million cases of larceny in the US every year, and between three and four million cases of stalking in the US every year. Rate of violence with larceny is roughly 1% whereas rate of violence with stalking averages 30%. Threats of violence with stalking occurs in about three out of every four cases, if I recall.

Of course, there is an implicit bias with measuring stalking as "peaceful" stalkers who never get caught leave no evidence. Unlike theft which always leaves evidence by its nature (the thing is gone).

Most property theft isn't reported, and won't be in your statistics.

Hard disagree. I am not and would not use an AirTag for stalking, and yet I am being punished for others doing it. It’s not fair to me.

I'm sorry, but that's silly. The argument is the other way around: would you like to be stalked by an airtag?

You can be stalked by 100 different devices on the market though. Not like this is the only possible way to track someone.

This is like nerfing knifes because they can kill people.

It's wild to see someone this forthcoming with their selfishness. You literally said "It’s not fair to me", as if a just world would prioritize your inconvenience over the safety of others.

I personally wouldn't use a rocket launcher for anything nefarious. It's super unfair.

Do you really think rocket launchers and airtags have the same risk?

Have you even considered the possibility that you or someone you love could one day be the victim of stalking?

I don't think you understand what the word "fair" means.

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