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Google Bans Sale of Android Spying App

dbune writes "Google is not letting a handset application that spies on someone's text messages be sold at its Android App Store. The Secret SMS Replicator developed by DLP Mobile to help lovers find out if their partners are cheating on them violates company policy, according to Google. The app works by secretly duplicating incoming text messages and forwarding these to another mobile phone number."

3 of 415 comments (clear)

  1. Re:so much for being open by Dishevel · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    You are an idiot.

    --
    Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
  2. Re:Good For Google by bonch · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Google could start by protecting customers from Google.

  3. Re:so much for being open by mysidia · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    A phrase to be used when overtly verifying, not as a justification for covert snooping.

    There are multiple justifications for covert snooping on children.

    To protect the emotional well being of the child: a desire to have the child not feel oppressed every time they send a text message, or feel every word they type is being scrutinized and might get them in trouble. So you only act on the contents of a text message if it's REALLY bad. To give them a sense or at least an illusion they are free.

    The knowledge that every word they type is watched can have an emotionally negative effect on the child, it can make the child feel more like the parent is an enemy and cause the child to rebel.

    Another justification for covert snooping is smart children who will have no difficulty circumventing overt verifying.

    For example, by encoding messages, using code words, borrowing a friend's phone to send the naughty text message with, by using an Email to SMS gateway, or other modes of communication such as Instant messenger.

    There are very good reasons for the snooping to be covert.