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First, I'm really sorry for the lack of the full context. Everyone worried about privacy and empathy for my father-in-laws; thanks a lot. He is 80+. Nonetheless, he insists we do some form of tracking (his phone or otherwise) so he does not get lost in a massively big community that we live in, in a big city (he comes from a tiny town). He himself makes sure that he carries the AirTag to make sure we can find him, just in case.

Thanks everyone for the concerns. I'm very aware of implications of privacy and what not. I usually try my best to go beyond my ways to make others happy, and be better.

For the anecdote part: he was at a hospital recently, and he ended up helping translate between the nurse and a few other patients. He then suggested them to learn some key English words that helps.

> Fun anecdote: right now, I have tagged my father-in-law with an AirTag while he is in town for his medical check-up. He is notorious for just taking off trying to find an audience to speak with, ever since the family barred him from accepting speaking invitations to conferences. Recently, we tracked him talking to a bunch of Bangladeshis at a hospital about why they should learn the basics of English.

That is a horrifying abuse of privacy and this technology.

It's entirely possible he knows he's being tracked and might be perfectly fine with it. I've heard of people using GPS tracking apps to track down grandparents with dementia or other health issues, as well as recovering addicts in case they don't come home when expected or answer the phone after some period and all of that was consentual because they agreed it would only be used in the case of an emergency. This might be something like that.

Yes I'm sure that all old-age people that can potentially become disoriented and can't find their way back home are worried about the privacy implications of that.

From context it sounds like his dad has dementia and that's just what you gotta do to keep them safe (invade their privacy).

I recently used one to figure out where a stray cat that was dumped in our neighborhood had kittens. She showed up on our porch multiples times per day to eat, and let us hold her - so I put a collar on her with an AirTag.

An hour later I walked around the neighborhood with my iPhone in my hand until her position updated. She was under a fallen pine tree and very well hidden.

So... does anyone want some kittens? :)

This is a pretty creative idea! My complex has had multiple small families of new kittens lately and I know at least one neighbor has had trouble finding the kittens since the other isn't always with them.

>Fun anecdote: right now, I have tagged my father-in-law with an AirTag while he is in town for his medical check-up. He is notorious for just taking off trying to find an audience to speak with, ever since the family barred him from accepting speaking invitations to conferences. Recently, we tracked him talking to a bunch of Bangladeshis at a hospital about why they should learn the basics of English.

you say it's a fun anecdote, but it reads like horror.

> He is notorious for just taking off trying to find an audience to speak with, ever since the family barred him from accepting speaking invitations to conferences.

Why would you admit you did this on a public forum?

Regardless of the whether your father-in-law needs to be put on a leash as your family believes, this is unethical if not illegal (at least in liberal parts of the world).

Unless he is a danger to himself or others, as determined by an independent professional, what is your family's justification for unilaterally deciding he should be banned from talking to people?

Sorry guys for the lack of context. Doctor's advice to reduce excessive work, prepare for talks, and then fly around the country speaking at conferences.