This reminded me of the MaxMind story a few years ago, when they used some family farm in Kansas as the default location when they couldn't find a match for an IP.<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/09/maxmind-mapping-lawsuit-kansas-farm-ip-address" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/09/maxmind-m...</a>
> A supposed glitch in the popular “Found My iPhone” app has been directing random strangers to the home of an unsuspecting Texas dad at all hours of the day, falsely accusing him of stealing their electronic devices. [...] he’s been visited by close to a dozen irate people over the past few years, telling him that their missing phone had last pinged at his address.<p>He wouldn't be the first dad to be totally unaware of what his shithead kid(s) is/are up to.
I recall a similar phenomenon some years before the pandemic, where Google Maps (?) continually led streams of angry humans to a particular person's residence. I've not succeeded in pulling up the reference, unfortunately.<p>I can only imagine how much it must suck to be at the blunt end of such MegaCorp oversights.
There was a good Reply All about a similar phenomenon in Atlanta:<p><a href="https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/n8hodm" rel="nofollow">https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/n8hodm</a>
I think because Find My relies solely on the GPS report of surround Apple devices, it may happen in the situation where the only Ithings around the stolen devices are the ones in this family.
Apple may not be directly responsible or capable of rectifying this. It could be a third-party database. See also: geolocation database errors.<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/09/maxmind-mapping-lawsuit-kansas-farm-ip-address" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/09/maxmind-m...</a>
> "Scott Schuster told the local news station KTRK that he’s been visited by <i>close to a dozen irate people over the past few years,</i> telling him that their missing phone had last pinged at his address."<p>So like... a couple people a year? As far as annoyances go, not exactly a big one.<p>Still, I'm happy he has this article now. He can just show it to the couple new visitors who arrive each year. Heck, frame it and put it above the doorbell...<p>Of course, it's also the perfect cover if he ever wanted to turn into an iPhone and AirPods thief... :P<p>In all seriousness though, I would be concerned if somebody ever did become violent. I'd definitely want the local police to be aware of the situation in advance and be ready to call them.<p>But also, the solution is maybe as easy as replacing your Wi-Fi router?