Viral nature of AirTag used as political pawn in lost luggage case

Apple's AirTag can precisely track lost items

AirTag is a controversial tracking tool sold by Apple, and any related story can lead to an incredibly viral post. One political filmmaker has seemingly taken advantage of this phenomenon.

Errol Webber is a filmmaker whose luggage was allegedly stolen from a United Airlines flight in Anchorage, Alaska. He was in New York filming a political ad, but just so happened to stow several AirTags in his gear.

In a post with over 25k retweets, he shared map images and the exact address of the lost bag with an AirTag hidden inside. It apparently contains several tripods worth around $750.

Webber continued the tweet thread with a promise to explain the entire story. He said how he had purchased multiple AirTags in LA and placed them in his multiple bags with expensive camera equipment.

Then, the story turns to his political ad campaign he was shooting in New York. The thread ends with the political ad smearing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the current New York 14th Congressional District Representative.

The thread doesn't continue, so there is no explanation for why the bags are in Anchorage, Alaska — though they might have been moved through there on their way back to California. Nor is there any resolution. The thread ends with the political ad he shot.

An image of the Find My app shared by Errol Webber

While the tweeter may have got distracted and forgot to finish the incredibly viral thread, it seems to have served its purpose. The political ad he filmed and shared in the thread has over 25k views in less than an hour.

AirTag is a coin-sized tracking device that has been through multiple controversies involving stalking and other tracking concerns. When famous people or political ones are involved with an AirTag, it almost inevitably goes viral. This wouldn't be the first time someone took advantage of a viral topic to promote politics, and it won't be the last.