One such app is FlexiSPY, available on Android, Blackberry and iPhone devices. This is software which runs silently in the background of these and other “smart” devices. It can help the user monitor their partner’s messages, track their GPS locations and even allows them to intercept and listen or record their phone calls.
On the FlexiSPY website’s home page, one of the straplines reads: “Many spouses cheat. They all use cell phones. Their cell phone will tell you what they don’t.” It’s an app that is tailor-made to allow a husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend to catch their significant other out.
The company’s website suggests: “For the sake of your mental and sexual health, you have a right to know if your partner is being responsible. Spy on their mobile phones to reveal their secrets.”
This is just one of a number of applications which enable suspicious spouses to keep tabs on their loved ones. These types of software are often marketed as a means to check up on the safety of your children or to keep track of an employee’s work rate.
Another such app, mSpy, is intended to do just that. Going by the slogan “Keep children safe and employees efficient”, mSpy says that it can track the activity in the background of the monitored phone including web history, Skype, WhatsApp, keystroke and images.
Sinister Purposes
That’s not to say that an app such as this isn’t being used for more sinister purposes. A representative for mSpy told ABC 22 news that this is often the case.
“We do have quite a large portion of our customers who use mSpy specifically to catch a cheating spouse,” said Tatiana Ameri. “We do ask our users to make sure they’ve got their monitored partner’s consent.”
FlexiSPY’s creators also insist that the use of this app without a partner’s consent is illegal, and proposes that a lawyer should be consulted before the technology is used.
However, apps like these are likely to appeal to anyone who wants to keep track of their partner’s movements and may even not trust what he or she is up to.
A new study of 2,000 adults has found that one in six Britons are so needy that they expect to hear from their partner every hour. Citing the proliferation of smartphones and social media as a major factor behind this, the study from E.ON also found that 41 % now expect their loved ones to be in touch several times a day and that trust, loyalty and humour are key components to a strong personal relationship.
In spite of this apparent desire for a high degree of trust and contact in a relationship, many people feel that this will raise serious ethical and legal questions. A quick survey of people living in London revealed that using such apps could pave the way for a swift relationship break-up.
'I Wouldn't Want to be Tracked'
Dovile, a 30 year old office worker living in west London, said: “I think I’d be put off by the idea. I can only see one legitimate reason for doing it occasionally: if I go out with my friends and he wants to make sure that I’m safe.”
Tom, a 37 year old mature student was also not keen on the idea. “I clearly wouldn’t feel too happy about it,” he said. “It would be quite concerning that trust had depleted so much that my word is second to a £40 app.”
Irina, 25, who works in central London said: “I wouldn’t want to be tracked by my husband. I think that tracking your other half’s location is unethical as it doesn’t demonstrate trust. However, I can understand that in some situations it’s acceptable, when a person is worried about a partner’s safety and care.”
For just £43 a month, a customer can download the FlexiSPY app onto their smartphone and begin marital espionage. However, the decision to snoop on a partner may well already signal that a relationship is doomed.
