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posted by chromas on Tuesday July 14 2020, @05:15AM   Printer-friendly
from the security-through-obscurity dept.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/07/google-bans-ads-for-stalkerware-apps-with-some-exceptions/

Google is trying to make it a little harder for a determined stalker to spy remotely on their spouse, partner, or ex by prohibiting advertising for stalkerware apps on its services—with one giant loophole.

The search giant updated its advertising policy to say that effective August 11, the company will no longer allow "the promotion of products or services that are marketed or targeted with the express purpose of tracking or monitoring another person or their activities without their authorization." Notably, the ban does not include private investigation services or apps and services designed for parents to track or monitor their minor children.

[...] The popularity of "dual use" apps, as described by the study, also effectively makes Google's ban on stalkerware ads toothless, as many tracking apps already claim to have a legitimate use for parents or investigators.


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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Tuesday July 14 2020, @05:29AM (1 child)

    by Rosco P. Coltrane (4757) on Tuesday July 14 2020, @05:29AM (#1021067)

    If they stop allowing products or services whose express purpose is tracking and monitoring people and their activities without their authorization, Google will have to shut down their entire product line.

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  • (Score: 5, Funny) by FatPhil on Tuesday July 14 2020, @07:22AM

    by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Tuesday July 14 2020, @07:22AM (#1021106) Homepage
    Not quite - they'll just have to stop advertising their entire product line (to people who are already in a google-controlled bubble).
    --
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