At the moment, if someone attaches a Airtag on my car and I have an iPhone it will notify me someone is tracking me. If I have an another phone however I don't receive that warning. Apple's put a product out there that benefits them while decreasing the safety of people who don't use their products. An open protocol at least would prevent this.

Genuinely curious:

What are other examples where specific protocols (open or not) are mandated by regulation ?

USB is a (closed!) protocol that's mandated by regulation. Don't like what the USB-IF has done with their data profiles/power profiles/etc? Prefer a lower-cost connector that doesn't require cables to be hand-assembled? Tough shit.

The mandates are often things you don't see as a citizen, but often on government contractors (a huge part of the US economy).

The number of RFCs that are required for basic things like email, storage, security etc are essential standards primarily because USG required contractors and vendors to adhere to those standards.

Cars are required to have an OBD-II port.