Blaming apple for this seems counterproductive. It’s Bluetooth that’s the problem. Why doesn’t NYT report on the security risks of Bluetooth but does report on useful tech like AirPods? I have a theory but it doesn’t paint the nyt in a very good light.

Apple is to blame because they made everyone's iPhones be AirTag relays, so all of the iPhone owners are unwittingly helping these crimimals.

Not if people turn off Bluetooth, which should be the default.

Apple's "turn off Bluetooth" is more of a temporary pause on connecting to devices. It turns itself back on after some time.

Is it me or are headlines that have a question mark just basically, no, the thing the article is addressing is not a thing that is happening.

You've independently discovered Betteridge's Law of Headlines[0].

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headline...