Google's version of AirTags includes some clever privacy safeguards, but can you trust these devices from Google?
Google's Find My Device network on Android is okay, but Apple's is better
If you want to find your stuff, Apple’s Find My is a surefire win. Even if your missing device is powered off and not connected to the internet, you can locate it on a map. It’s built into computers and accessories like AirPods, and you can add it to anything by attaching or hiding an AirTag inside. And now, Google’s Find My Device is live.
“While Google has committed to user privacy and has mechanisms in place to anonymize and protect data, the potential for internal use of location data, even if anonymized, cannot be completely ruled out. Trusting Google, or any technology company, comes down to their transparency, track record, and the specific privacy controls they offer users,” Nic Adams, CEO of cybersecurity and data privacy company Orcus, told Lifewire via email.
Google’s Find My Device Network just went live , though unlike Apple, Google itself doesn’t sell tracking tiles. Instead, you’ll either buy tracking tiles from third parties that use the network, or simply use Google’s own network to find your Google phone. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, for example, can both still be tracked even if their batteries are dead.