Spyware Maker Bryan Fleming Avoids Jail After Conviction for Illegal Surveillance
Bryan Fleming, the first convicted spyware maker in over a decade, has avoided jail time after pleading guilty to federal charges related to his surveillance company, pcTattletale. Fleming was sentenced to time served and fined $5,000 in a San Diego federal court. His conviction follows a years-long investigation into his company, which sold spyware for unlawful uses. Spyware apps like pcTattletale, often referred to as 'stalkerware,' allow users to secretly monitor others' devices, capturing messages, photos, and locations. Fleming's company was shut down in 2024 after a data breach exposed the scale of its operations, revealing that over 138,000 customers had used the service to spy on victims.