TechCrunch Industry News FTC upholds ban on stalkerware founder Scott Zuckerman
Dec 9, 2025
Scott Zuckerman, the founder of stalkerware apps, faces a ban upheld by the FTC, which he argues is impacting his other businesses. The podcast highlights details of the 2021 order that includes a data-deletion mandate and rigorous audits. It also discusses a significant data breach where personal information from thousands of devices was exposed. Experts weigh in on the ongoing risks of stalkerware, noting repeated breaches that compromise sensitive data. Zuckerman's claims of hardship and alleged attempts to bypass the ban are examined.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
FTC Enforces Lifetime Ban On Stalkerware Sales
- The FTC permanently barred Scott Zuckerman from selling or promoting surveillance apps after a data breach exposed sensitive user and target data.
- The order also forced deletion of SpyPhone data and imposed audits and cybersecurity requirements on his businesses.
Enforce Deletion And Regular Security Audits
- Regulators should enforce deletion and audits when surveillance companies mishandle data to prevent further harm.
- Maintain strict cybersecurity practices and regular audits for any business handling sensitive surveillance data.
Massive SpyPhone Data Exposure Revealed
- In 2018 a researcher found an exposed Amazon S3 bucket containing selfies, messages, recordings, contacts, locations, and hashed passwords from SpyPhone.
- The breach included data from 3,660 phones and tens of thousands of email addresses and customer records.