(Image Source: KareLog)
BY AMY WILLMOTT
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN
Could be bad news for paranoid romatic partners. Tokyo-based firm Manuscript is being forced to rethink its boyfriend tracking app.
The app, ‘Karelog’ which translates as ‘boyfriend log’, was marketed to women who wanted to keep an eye on their significant others through GPS data. Once downloaded onto their partners phone, suspicious lovers can see location information and the amount battery left. With the platinum plan, one can also see a list of all calls, dates, times and durations. All while the app is hidden on the victims phone.
Ninemsn reports anti-virus software giant McAfee wasn’t having any of it, identifying the app as a....
"Potentially Unwanted Program"
And stating that...
"... it was like a spyware program and could be used illicitly”
In response to criticism, the app has been re-branded as ‘location for lovers’ and no longer shows call histories or hides the app icon. Also the website now includes a warning that unauthorized installation of the app could be considered a crime. The Telegraph spoke with the firms president, who says...
"The first version was mainly targeted at women who wanted to know where there husband was... But the new version requires a password to access the information and we see it as a way in which couples can share information with each other."
Inventorspot questions the advertising of the app, which it says blatantly targets females desperately wanting to invade their boyfriend’s privacy.
“… it takes no knowledge of Japanese to know the pink & lacy graphics at the Karelog website are designed to attract a female demographic. If that's not enough, check out the image of a big-eyed black kitty (with pink hairbow ala Hello Kitty) gazing longfully at her Android-phone-clutching, pants-wearing tomcat.”
Although Boyfriend Log is getting a lot of attention, it’s part of a trend of what some call ‘stalker apps.’ And apparently there are enough of them for a YouTube iPhone commercial spoof.
“What’s great about the iPhone, is if you want to know where your ex girlfriend is at any moment... there’s an app for that. Or if you want to check her personal calendar so you can accidentally run into her, and give her a chance to take you back.. there’s an app for that.”
The most recent person-tracker app? Apple’s own Find My Friends app on iOS 5.
Transcript by Newsy.
