Post: #1

Quote:The CEO of a company that created the StealthGenie spying app was arrested over the weekend in Los Angeles and now faces a number of federal charges.

Hammad Akbar, a 31-year-old who is the CEO of a company called InvoCode, faces charges of “conspiracy, sale of a surreptitious interception device, advertisement of a known interception device, and advertising a device as a surreptitious interception device,” according to a report from Ars Technica.

“He is a leader of the criminal conspiracy responsible for StealthGenie,” the indictment reads. “StealthGenie is an app designed to run on a variety of mobile smartphone platforms, including Google Inc.’s Android platform. Blackberry Limited’s Blackberry platform, and Apple Inc.’s iPhone platform. It surreptitiously intercepts a variety of both outgoing and incoming wire and electronic transmissions to and from the smartphone on which it is installed.

The StealthGenie app monitors calls, texts, videos, and other communications on mobile phones “without detection,” federal prosecutors said.

The federal prosecutors said Akbar’s case is the first time that the goverment has prosecuted someone for selling spying technology that targets adults.

“Selling spyware is not just reprehensible — it’s a crime,” U.S. Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said in a statement. “Apps like StealthGenie are expressly designed for use by stalkers and domestic abusers who want to know every detail of a victim’s personal life—all without the victim’s knowledge.”

Venture Beat article

So, basically his crime is selling a tool which can be used for committing "domestic abuse". Governments don't want private competition in the spying field.

Post: #2

He made something cheaper and better than the CIA/NSA did but in a legal way. Unlike theirs.

I wonder if this was used by the News of the World reporters to eavesdrop on people.

Post: #3

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this one of those apps you would use to catch your spouse/gf cheating? Sounds like a dangerous precedent of prosecuting companies that create these sort of apps.

Post: #4

Could he mount a first amendment free speech defense?

I think it ultimately enhances security for a company like his to be legal and out in the open - it makes it more compelling for people and phone makers to specifically defend against software like his.

Post: #5

he did the same what N S A is doing automatically everyday to all of us, but he did it like Robin Hood - for the people, for those 99% of us...

N S A does not want any competition...

Post: #6

Quote:Hammad Akbar