Google Pulls Stalkerware Ads That Promoted Phone Spying Apps

Last August, Google banned ads in users’ search results that promoted apps that are designed “with the express purpose of tracking or monitoring another person or their activities without their authorization.”

But TechCrunch found five app makers were still advertising their stalkerware apps as recently as last week. Google has since removed them.

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