iPhones Apps: Spousal Espionage

"An iPhone app designed to alert phone owners if their suspicious partners try to access their messages has gone on sale."

Mr. Matthew Moore reports on the latest technological advance in an increasingly common practice: spousal espionage. In marriages where trust has worn thin, new studies have revealed wary spouses resorting to stalking, hiring private investigators, and other means of "keeping tabs" on their husband or wife. Now, there is an application (or software "program" that operates on a mobile phone for the tech-illiterate among us) available to counter "spousal espionage." It is called iTrust, but perhaps it should be more accurately called "iDon'tTrust." Either way, it is presently offered for $0.99 by Jorgnsn (http://www.jorgnsn.com/iTrust.php).

According to Moore, "[This application] is aimed at people who leave their phones unattended around the home but don't trust their loved ones to resist the temptation to pry." Now the mobile phone of anyone using this application will report to the owner not only that someone has attempted to access the phone, but what function of the phone the intruder attempted to access by taking a "screenshot" (electronic photograph of the phone's display), which then becomes the phone's "frozen screensaver."

Moore reports that the Jorgnsn company claims (on its website) that research proves 67% of women regularly check their boyfriends' phones. Unfortunately, no statistics were reported for wives, husbands, or spouses generally.

Marriage Matters does not generally endorse the pursuit of "spousal espionage," as marriage mentoring seems more likely to heal a marriage than spying. However, there are other legitimate applications for this application as well (prevention of identity theft, etc.). The sad truth remains, however, that many people no longer trust their spouses and loved ones for a plethora of reasons including suspicions of cheating, gambling, and general dishonesty.

Is spying the answer, though? Is it "okay" for people to spy on their spouses and loved ones? Does doing so demean the spy? Right or wrong, is it an invasion of privacy? When is it okay, if ever, and when is it not? Let us know what you think.

SOURCE: "iTrust app alerts iPhone owners when prying partners try to access their messages"; Matthew Moore; 19 Jan 2010; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7026052/iTrust-app-alerts-iPhone-owners-when-prying-partners-try-to-access-their-messages.html

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