Senators call for an investigation of ‘stalking apps’

{mosads} The letter was also signed by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Someone who installs a “stalking app” on a victim’s phone can access that person’s voicemails, text messages, and emails and can track the person’s location using the phone’s Global Positioning System technology. 

“Anyone who leaves their mobile phone alone for five minutes could have stalking software installed without their knowledge,” the lawmakers wrote.

The apps run secretly on the victim’s phone and are advertised as being “undetectable,” the senators claim.

“Worried about your spouse cheating?” one app website asks, according to the letter. “Track EVERY text, EVERY call and EVERY Move They make Using our EASY Cell Phone Spy Software.”

The lawmakers pointed to an incident in which a Minnesota woman entered a domestic violence program and received a text message from her abuser within minutes asking why she was in the county building. Authorities later concluded the man was using a location tracking app or service.

According to Justice Department statistics, 26,000 people are victims of GPS stalking every year.