TL;DR
Bryan Fleming, who developed the stalkerware product pcTattletale, has pleaded guilty in federal court to selling software intended to intercept communications. He faces sentencing later this year and potential prison time, fines, and forfeiture.
What happened
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California obtained a guilty plea from Bryan Fleming, the developer of a consumer surveillance product called pcTattletale. Fleming admitted to selling software designed primarily to intercept communications, an offense carrying an interstate commerce element under federal law. Court papers say Fleming began marketing the product in 2017 to customers who wanted to monitor partners or spouses without consent. pcTattletale could be installed on computers and mobile devices to collect messages, calls, browsing history, location data and—according to filings—video captures activated when a device was unlocked, all viewable through an online portal. Investigators from Homeland Security Investigations had been probing Fleming since at least 2021. The company suffered a 2024 breach that exposed roughly 138,751 customer accounts and associated device and victim data. Fleming is due to be sentenced later this year and faces statutory penalties including imprisonment and fines.
Why it matters
- The case represents only the second successful U.S. prosecution of a stalkerware vendor since 2014, indicating federal willingness to pursue such sellers.
- pcTattletale’s capabilities demonstrate how consumer-grade surveillance tools can gather extensive personal data and enable covert monitoring.
- The 2024 data breach tied to pcTattletale highlights security and privacy risks when surveillance tools are poorly secured.
- A guilty plea may offer a legal precedent for future enforcement against makers of software marketed for unlawful spying.
Key facts
- Defendant: Bryan Fleming, creator of pcTattletale.
- Charge: One count for selling software designed to intercept communications with an interstate commerce element.
- Product functionality: Installed on computers and mobile devices; collected texts, emails, calls, geolocation, browsing history and recorded video when devices were unlocked.
- Investigation: Homeland Security Investigations probed Fleming since at least 2021; a 2022 search warrant was filed and later unsealed.
- Data breach: pcTattletale was hacked in 2024, exposing 138,751 customer accounts and a range of device and victim information.
- Potential sentence: Fleming faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, forfeiture of property involved in the offense, and other penalties at sentencing later this year.
- Historical context: This is the second successful U.S. stalkerware prosecution since 2014; the prior case involved software called StealthGenie.
What to watch next
- Sentencing developments in Fleming’s case later this year (date not specified in the source).
- Whether federal prosecutors bring more cases against sellers of consumer-oriented stalkerware (not confirmed in the source).
- Follow-up reporting or statements from anti-stalkerware advocates and law enforcement about broader enforcement strategies (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Stalkerware: Consumer-grade software designed to monitor a person’s device activity covertly, often marketed for spying on partners or family members.
- Spyware: Software that gathers information from a device without the knowledge or consent of the user and transmits it to a third party.
- Geolocation data: Information that indicates the physical location of a device, typically derived from GPS, cell towers, or Wi‑Fi positioning.
- Intercepting communications: Capturing the content of electronic communications—such as messages or calls—often a criminal offense when done without authorization.
Reader FAQ
What did Fleming plead guilty to?
He pleaded guilty to one federal count alleging sale of software designed to intercept communications with an interstate commerce element.
What was pcTattletale designed to do?
The software was sold to monitor computers and mobile devices, capturing messages, calls, location, browsing history and video captures when devices were unlocked.
Who investigated the case?
Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations were involved in the investigation.
Will there be more prosecutions of stalkerware makers?
not confirmed in the source
CYBER-CRIME 1 Stalkerware slinger pleads guilty for selling snooper software to suspicious spouses pcTattletale boss Bryan Fleming faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced later this year Brandon…
Sources
- Stalkerware slinger pleads guilty for selling snooper software to suspicious spouses
- Owner of Stalkerware Maker pcTattletale Pleads Guilty to …
- Founder of spyware maker pcTattletale pleads guilty to …
- A stalking app, $1.2M Macomb Co. mansion lead feds to …
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