Serial spyware founder Scott Zuckerman wants the FTC to unban him from the surveillance industry

The FTC is reviewing a petition from Scott Zuckerman, founder of spyware vendor Support King/SpyFone, to rescind or modify a 2021 ban that barred him from the surveillance industry and imposed cybersecurity and audit requirements after SpyFone exposed victims’ phone data. Despite the ban, a 2022 cache from the SpyTrac spyware service linked developers to Support King and contained SpyFone records and access keys for another clone app, prompting renewed scrutiny. Privacy advocates, including EFF’s Eva Galperin, oppose lifting the ban and reporting requirements, while the FTC seeks public comments until August 19; the outcome could signal the agency’s approach to surveillance vendors with breach histories.