Consider Bluetooth trackers and safety over recent years, and the misuse of Apple AirTags and similar devices against women in domestic abuse and stalking cases may come to mind. Efforts to combat these malicious uses, like the IETF’s Detection of Unwanted Location Trackers (DULT) standard, are underway, with tracker manufacturers now turning the technology used to monitor women against their will into tech that protects them.
In mid-July, Seattle-based Pebblebee revealed a new, free SOS safety feature called Alert for its $35 Clip Bluetooth tracker. This device, compatible with Apple’s Find My or Google’s Find Hub networks, is made from approximately 30% recycled plastic and runs on a rechargeable battery lasting over 12 months between USB-C charges.
A multi-press (six-plus presses) on the Clip can activate a siren, flashing LED lights, and automatically send an SMS notification to a pre-saved “Safety Circle” contact in the Pebblebee app. Setting up the contact in the app is simple, and a long press on the device can turn off the siren and LEDs, though accidental activation is unlikely. The Clip’s siren isn’t as loud, and the lights don’t cover as much area as a personal alarm, but they can alert passersby at night. The Pebblebee website notes: “The Alert functionality including the siren, strobe, and first Safety Circle contact is and will always be completely free.”
Testing the SOS system showed it works flawlessly. The Safety Circle contact received a text saying: “URGENT: Sophie activated a Pebblebee Alert. Please check in immediately” with a Google Maps location link. Clicking “Mark as safe” in the app or a long-press on the Clip sends a follow-up text: “Sophie canceled their Pebblebee Alert” with the last location link.
Pebblebee is now introducing a paid subscription option called Alert Live for $3 a month or $26 a year. This option allows up to five contacts to receive SOS notifications and includes live location tracking. A new Silent Mode, which sends alerts without the siren and LEDs, is available for both free and paid users. However, testing of these new features and the real-time location sharing is pending.