The Life 360 app is used by over three million households in the UK alone – and by celebs like Tess Daly, Jamie Oliver and Gwyneth Paltrow, but charities warn it’s being abused by stalkers
Charities warn that new technologies are being used by stalkers(
Charities warn smartphone tracker apps that help users keep tabs on loved ones are being abused by stalkers. The technology is popular with many parents who want to know exactly where their children are.
The Life 360 app is used by over three million households in the UK alone – and by celebrities like Tess Daly, Jamie Oliver and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Mum-of-two Tess, 54, says she “obsessively” watches her 18-year-old daughter Phoebe drive. Gwyneth, 50, has shared how she uses the app to keep an eye on her husband Brad Falchuk.
Tess Daly is one of those celebrities who use apps to keep track of their kids(
Gwyneth Paltrow also uses the Life 360 app(
And father-of-five Jamie, 48, gushes: “The older girls, Jools and I, all use an app called Life360, which means we can see exactly where everyone is and what path they’ve taken – that is great!”
It can also track car journeys from start to finish and detect how fast someone is driving. But domestic abusers install it on ex-partners’, children’s or partners’ devices without their knowledge.
Some victims realize the app is there but are afraid to disable it because it might trigger a tantrum. One woman said her abusive ex secretly installed leading tracker Life 360 on her daughter’s iPad.
She said: “I found out that he has been stalking us throughout the marriage. Once I was bringing a friend home and he texted me asking why I stopped the car.
“I became so paranoid that I didn’t even dare have conversations in my own car or at home without turning off the devices because I was convinced he was recording me.”
More and more people claim to be victims of digital espionage(
According to Refuge, a domestic violence charity, the number of people seeking help with digital spying has increased by 258% in five years.
Refuge’s Emma Pickering said: “Countless survivors tell us that stalkerware apps have been installed on their phones, giving perpetrators tools to intimidate, harass and manipulate them.”
Victims want tech companies to install special alerts because so many victims are unaware that they have been installed on their devices.
Women’s Aid’s Sarah Davidge agreed, adding, “Survivors need to even know that this technology is being used in this way, which is often not possible given its subtlety and unobtrusiveness.”
“Tech companies must continue to develop warning systems and raise awareness of how these devices and technologies could be used to achieve more sinister purposes.”
Life 360 has been contacted for comment. Addressing previous concerns, founder Chris Hulls said, “Is stalking my family stalking anyone?” No, it’s about making it easier to connect with people.”
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