Computer Laboratory

Tracker Anti-stalking Features Study

IF YOU FOUND A TRACKER AND ARE NOT PART OF THIS STUDY, CLICK HERE

About the Study

What is this study?

This study investigates how item tracking devices such as Apple's Airtags and Tile trackers are used for stalking. We're interested in how people use the devices for stalking, how people look for the devices, and how effective the anti-stalking features provided by the tracking devices are.

What does participation involve?

The study will be run within the game of assassins. Participants in the study are "tracker-enabled" and are provided with a tracking device that they can plant on their target to track them for a period of time before assassinating them. You can only track tracker-enabled players, and must not use your tracker on "tracker-disabled" players. You will be provided with a competency bonus for tracker-related kills.

When you place a tracker on a target, you must email the umpires the location of the tracker that you have placed. If you find a tracker placed on you, you must email the umpires that you have found a tracker and then return it to them. Trackers which are found will be returned to the owner when either the owner dies or the person they placed the tracker on dies.

When someone is killed, there will be a short survey for both the assassin and the target to be completed along with the kill report. The survey asks for information about how the tracker was used, and how participants searched for trackers that had been placed on their person. When someone is killed, the assassin will remove the tracker that they had placed on their target.

How will I be compensated for taking part?

All participants are welcome to keep the trackers provided for the game at the end of the study. After the conclusion of the study, you should not use the tracker to track other people or items that do not belong to you.

Using your tracker for kills will be rewarded with a competency bonus, as will filling in our survey after each kill / death.

What data do you store about me?

We store your contact information, some demographic information including the relevant technology you own and your experience with technology and assassins, and your responses to the post-kill surveys.

We store your name and CRSID so that we can identify you and contact you about targets for the game and to obtain information when you get a kill or are killed. We also store your current course, as well as information about your relevant experience with technology, trackers, and assassins to measure your skill level before starting the study.

We store information about your phone OS and additional devices you own that interact with tracking devices, as this impacts which trackers you use and how you can detect trackers that have been placed on your person. We will not collect your location information, although this may be available to other participants of the study who track you.

Data is collected on Qualtrics and will be anonymised once data collection has completed. Participants can request a copy of the data we have stored on them at any time by contacting the researchers at the emails given below.

Can I withdraw from the study at a later point?

You can contact the researchers at any time to withdraw from the study. When you do, we will delete all data we have stored about you and contact the person tracking you to ensure that the tracker is returned. We will also ask you to provide the current location of your tracker so that we can remove it from the person you are tracking.

What if I have further questions about this study?

Please contact the researchers at kieron.turk@cl.cam.ac.uk or alice.hutchings@cl.cam.ac.uk

This research proposal has been scrutinised by the University of Cambridge, Dept. of Computer Science & Technology’s Ethical Review Committee.

Setting up trackers

Airtag:

Enable Bluetooth on your device and go to the home screen. Hold the tag close to your iPhone and remove the plastic tab. Press connect and follow the on-screen instructions.

Alternatively, open the Find My app and click the + icon, then select Add AirTag.

Tile Sticker:

Download the Tile app and enabled Bluetooth on your device. Select Add a Device → Activate a Tile → Mate, Pro ... Sticker. Click the button on the side of the tile tracker and continue to follow the on-screen instructions.

Galaxy SmartTag

On a Galaxy Smartphone, download the Smart Things app and enable Bluetooth. Click the + icon → Add device → Tag/Tracker → Samsung. Follow the on-screen instructions for setup.

Chipolo One:

Download the Chipolo app and enable Bluetooth. Select Add new device → One, and click the Chipolo tracker. Follow the on-screen instructions for setup.

KeyFinder:

Download the iFindU app and enable Bluetooth. Hold the button on the tracker until it beeps. In the app, click the + icon and hold the tracker close to the phone.

I found a tracker on me but I'm not part of this study. What should I do?

Players are supposed to only place trackers on other tracker-enabled players in our study. Despite the cautions taken to ensure this happens, it is possible that a tracker ends up being placed on someone that is not part in the study. If this happens, please follow the instructions below to disable the tracker, and to then inform us that you have found it and to return it to us.

Disabling a tracker

TO DISABLE AN AIRTAG: Press down on the metal plate on the front of the Airtag and rotate counter-clockwise. This will open the battery compartment and allow you to remove the battery, disabling the tracker.

TO DISABLE A GALAXY SMARTTAG, CHIPOLO ONE, OR A KEYFINDER: Insert a thin tool such as a screwdriver or pen into the gap on the side of the device and pry off the top of the tracker. You can then remove the battery to disable the tracker.

FOR TILE STICKERS: These trackers cannot have the battery removed to disable them. You can impede the tracker temporarily by putting it in a metal container such as a cocktail shaker or refrigerator.

Returning the tracker to us

Please contact kieron.turk@cl.cam.ac.uk as soon as possible to inform us that you have found a tracking device.


Email
kieron.turk [at] cl.cam.ac.uk

Pronouns
Any pronouns (Primarily they/them)

Website / blog
morado.me

Office
GE23