Scott Zuckerman, the founder of Support King, is taking the world by storm. Now, he is hoping to finally convince the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to remove a ban that was slapped on him in 2021. The ban followed leaks connecting his company to the distribution of spyware. In particular, its subsidiary SpyFone exposed thousands of people’s sensitive information—such as text messages, photos, and call logs—to the public internet in 2018. Zuckerman has made the case that the limits imposed on him constitute an “unnecessary burden.” This stunts the development of his other entrepreneurial endeavours.
The FTC’s prohibition requires Zuckerman to implement stringent cybersecurity practices. He has to submit to regular audits for any business he operates. Less than a year after that ban went into effect, Zuckerman leaped back into the spyware business. His early extensive involvement in the industry raised ample red flags regarding his compliance and intentions on the surveillance front.
Though Zuckerman’s petition has received a lot of support from privacy advocates, it has been criticized by many security experts. Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, sounded an alarm bell. She drew attention to the danger of allowing Zuckerman back into our country’s airwaves. She stated, “I think this petition should be opposed loudly and vigorously. Mr. Zuckerman has repeatedly shown himself to be a bad actor, flouting the FTC by continuing to run his stalkerware company even after the ban was issued.”
Zuckerman’s appeal should be subjected to added scrutiny given his purported links to SpyTrac. This complex spyware operation was allegedly able to operate on such a scale with just a handful of freelance developers. The operation has since gone dark after being prompted for comment by TechCrunch. This further undercuts Zuckerman’s assertion that he wants to run a transparent process.
In response to the lawsuit, Zuckerman argues that his repeated compliance with the FTC’s order has put him in a position of severe financial hardship. These challenges prevent him from growing his business. He recently appealed directly to Commissioner Ferguson, emphasizing that current regulatory enforcement should ensure a “positive impact for consumers and the public.” Many remain skeptical of his intentions.
Galperin acknowledged that the decision to let Zuckerman work inside the industry is fraught with peril. She asserted very strongly that he ought to be banned from ever operating any kind of internet-related enterprise. His handpicked administration’s history of fraud, abuse, and neglect when it comes to protecting sensitive user data is unmistakable.
The FTC is currently considering Zuckerman’s petition. This would likely be one of the first big tests for the Republican-controlled agency on cybersecurity matters. Privacy advocates are cautiously watching the review process, hoping for a signal that the broader surveillance landscape is on notice.
Public comments on Zuckerman’s petition are due by August 19. This has led to a great deal of reactions from all the sectors’ stakeholders.