Japanese ‘Boyfriend Tracker’ App’s Features Stripped Down After Complaints

A Japanese app develpement company has been pushed to strip down the features of its application allows women to secretly track their husbands or boyfriends movement.

The ‘Boyfriend Log’ app works just like the controversial app launched in Kenya in 2010. The Kenyan app which was dubbed “Juju” tracked the spouse’s movement through a secret app installed into the phone of the the spouse.

Japanese firm “Manuscript” released the Boyfriend log app on August 30, and encouraged women to install it on their partner’s phone without them knowing. “Juju” app was also marketed more to women to track their boyfriends.

To use the “Kare Log”  (Boyfriend Log) app, Japanese users install it on their spouse’s Android smartphone and set up an ID and password so they can log onto a website for details. Depending on what subscription you have signed up for, you can then check your boyfriend’s GPS location, call log, apps he’s been downloading and his phone battery.

Users can sign up to a three day trial before picking up a regular subscription. A regular subscription comes minus the call log and app download hacks, or a “Platinum” membership costing 8,980 Yen (£71.94) annually.

Anti-virus software giant McAfee labelled the app a “Potentially Unwanted Program” (PUP) . Because the app did not let the phone’s user know it was installed and sending out information “it was like a spyware program and could be used illicitly,” McAfee said.

After complaints in the web that the app was a form of spyware, its developer  has apologised and removed some of its functions such as the ability to view call history,  The Manichi Daily News reports. The Kare Log app is now based on the consent of both parties.

An icon on the targeted smartphone will now be displayed to show the application is running.