Karelog, the boyfriend tracking app
A new Android app has been causing quite a bit of controversy in the Japanese media recently. The app is Karelog (カレログ); “kare” literally means “he” or “him” but in this context it means “boyfriend” - so Karelog is the Boyfriend Log app.
The cute and frilly (complete with shiny kittens) Karelog home page proclaims that installing the app on “his” cellphone enables the girlfriend remotely (via the app’s web service) check his phone’s battery status, track his positioning via GPS, and see what kind other apps are installed on there. Yep, it’s an app that helps a suspicious girlfriend (or spouse, or whomever) track the hapless “he” via his phone.
That’s already a big yipes right there. But what made it worse was that the company initially openly touted its use as a surveillance tool. What’s more, apparently the app can be ‘hidden’ so that the phone owner doesn’t know that’s it’s been installed. Double yipes.
After quite a storm of media controversy, the Karelog website now says quite prominently that “even if you are very close [to the phone owner] you stil need their express permission to remotely track their data, otherwise you will be violating their right to privacy and may be arrested”, etc etc. The “great as a surveillance tool!” type stuff has been removed. The marketing text now proclaims it’s a “relationship-aid app” “so you can always feel at ease when you’re apart” “for the couple that wants to stay close, all the time!” Still, it’s quite obvious to anyone what this app is capable of - and who in their right mind would let anyone else install it on their phone? Totally spineless husbands and boyfriends who are that desparate to hang onto the girl?
The app is still available on the Android market (which is apparently not closely monitored in the way the iPhone App store is. Note, I don’t have an Android phone, so I’m just repeating what the media is saying.)
Well, what do you think of this app? Would you use it - especially if you think you could get away with your boyfriend (or girlfriend) not knowing it was there? I certainly wouldn’t…and if my spouse or boyfriend did that to me, that would be the end, no questions asked. In a way though I’m not surprised that it exists - and, if Karelog is forced to stop marketing themselves openly, it may still sell well in some underground fashion.
- Karelog website (J)
