Google removes several stalkerware ads promoting spying on spouses

In a bid to minimise the spread of stalkerware (used by abusers to spy on the phones of their spouses), Google has once again purged several “stalkerware” ads from its Play Store, promoting apps that violated its policies.

Stalkerware apps are generally disguised under a fake app name with suspicious access to messages, call logs, location and other personal activity.

Once downloaded, these apps been repurposed by people to spy on the smartphones of their spouses.

“We do not allow ads promoting spyware for partner surveillance. We immediately removed the ads that violated our policy and will continue to track emerging behaviours to prevent bad actors from trying to evade our detection systems,” a Google spokesperson told TechCrunch on Monday.