FTC Bars Sale of ‘Stalking’ Apps in New Settlement (2)

A software company can’t sell “stalking” apps that monitor devices unless it ensures they’re only used for legitimate purposes, the Federal Trade Commission said in the agency’s first action against stalkerware.

The commission Oct. 22 said it reached a proposed settlement with software manufacturer Retina-X Studios LLC and its owner, James N. Johns, Jr., to resolve claims that the company’s products compromised consumers’ privacy and the security of devices on which the apps were installed. The company sold subscriptions to three apps before it stopped selling them in 2018, the FTC said.

The proposed settlement is a “sign that the ...