https://thenextweb.com/tech/2019/10/23/stalkerware-apps-struck-down-for-the-first-time-ever-by-the-ftc/

Hollywood has us believing that spyware technology is only used by secret-agent hackers who plant tracking devices in the wheels of cars or in the soles of shoes. But in reality, “stalkerware” isn’t as high-tech or inaccessible as we’re led to believe. It’s a tool that can be harnessed as a dangerous weapon, stripping people of their privacy — especially women in abusive relationships. 

Stalkerware technology, also known as “spouseware,” takes the form of applications or add-ons to a device that allows someone to remotely monitor another person’s activity. This technology has become increasingly accessible, but yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) made its first case against the developers behind three stalking apps — originally created to monitor children and employees – that may also be used for illegitimate purposes.