Skechers is making kids’ shoes with a hidden AirTag compartment

Skechers has launched a new line of children's sneakers featuring a hidden compartment in the heel designed to hold an Apple AirTag, allowing parents to discreetly track their child's location via the shoe. This product, announced in July, is not an official collaboration with Apple and does not include the AirTag itself. The technology behind AirTags relies on nearby Apple devices to relay location information rather than built-in GPS, making it less effective for tracking fast-moving individuals but still useful for keeping tabs on belongings or children. While these shoes cater specifically to kids, raising potential benefits such as monitoring children or adults with conditions like dementia, the broader use of AirTags for tracking has raised privacy concerns. Instances of AirTags being used maliciously for stalking have prompted Apple to implement safety measures. The Skechers product exemplifies the growing normalization of surveillance technology in everyday items, which, despite good intentions, could lead to ethical and privacy challenges if similar tracking devices are used on adults without their consent.