Apple Inc said Monday it had launched an Android app to help users scan nearby AirTags or other similar item trackers that might be traveling with them without their knowledge, in an effort to boost privacy.

The Tracker Detect app, which Apple launched on the Google Play Store, says a user can scan to try to find AirTags or compatible devices if they think someone is using them to track their location.

AirTags are small devices that can be attached to items such as keys and wallets to locate them when they are lost.

Apple said the app allows Android users to proactively scan for item trackers that are no longer with their owner. If this tracker has been moving with the user for more than 10 minutes, the app will help locate it by playing a sound and providing instructions to disable it.

"We are raising the bar on privacy for our users and the industry, and hope others will follow," an Apple spokesman said in a statement.

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