Critics warn of renewed privacy risks as Zuckerman seeks reentry into surveillance tech amid ongoing scrutiny of his past violations
A Banned Surveillance Founder Wants Back In
Scott Zuckerman, the founder of banned spyware firm Support King, is petitioning the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to reverse or relax a 2021 ban that bars him from operating in the surveillance industry.
- The FTC’s original order followed a massive breach by SpyFone, a Support King subsidiary, which exposed sensitive user data like photos, messages, and location history online in 2018.
- The unanimous FTC ruling not only banned Zuckerman from the surveillance space but also imposed strict cybersecurity and audit obligations on all his future ventures.
Zuckerman Calls Restrictions “Unnecessary Burden”
In his petition, Zuckerman argues that the order has hindered his ability to expand unrelated businesses, citing high compliance costs.
- He claims the ban does not reflect the FTC’s current “enforcement philosophy” under its Republican leadership, which he interprets as more focused on consumer benefit than punitive oversight.
- Zuckerman’s appeal is directed to FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, a Trump appointee, and comes as the agency faces its first major surveillance tech test under its new composition.
Critics Warn of Repeat Offenses
Privacy experts have been quick to condemn the request, citing Zuckerman’s documented pattern of misconduct.
- Eva Galperin, cybersecurity director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said: “Mr. Zuckerman has repeatedly shown himself to be a bad actor… I have no doubt he would start another stalkerware company the minute he thought he could get away with it.”
- Galperin stressed that maintaining strict reporting and cybersecurity oversight is necessary for any Zuckerman-linked tech venture, especially if it involves handling user data.
Spyware Resurfaces Despite Ban
Despite the 2021 ban, Zuckerman was linked to another spyware app, SpyTrac, in 2022.
- A leaked data cache obtained by TechCrunch revealed that SpyTrac was operated by developers tied to Support King, likely as a way to circumvent the FTC order.
- The breach also included leftover SpyFone records—which the company was legally required to delete—and access keys to yet another clone app, OneClickMonitor.
SpyTrac quietly shut down operations shortly after Zuckerman was contacted for comment.
What’s Next: Public Comment and FTC Review
The FTC has not yet set a timeline for deciding on the petition, but the public has until August 19 to submit comments.
- The current commission includes three Republicans and one Democrat, with a fifth seat vacant.
- Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, the sole Democratic commissioner, was recently reappointed after a previous attempt to remove her.
- Any move to modify or vacate the ban would send a strong signal about the FTC’s stance on data privacy enforcement and surveillance oversight.
