French firm under fire for gay-detecting spyware

A French company has come under fire after advertising that its spyware can ‘find out if your son is gay.’

Fireworld – which creates ‘invisible PC spy software’ – posted an article suggesting parents could use its technology to hack their son’s Facebook accounts to look for ‘clues’ to confirm suspicions about their children’s sexuality.

The article has since been taken down, but not before it was spotted by a French LGBTQ rights group which is now speaking out against the firm, along with internet commenters and even politicians.

The now-deleted article (pictured). Fireworld – which creates ‘invisible PC spy software’ – posted an article suggesting parents could use its technology to hack their son’s Facebook accounts to look for ‘clues’ to confirm suspicions about their children’s sexuality

WHAT IS SPYWARE? 

Spyware is software that is used to gather information about a person and their technology usage, often without consent.

 It’s mostly classified into four types: adware, system monitors, tracking cookies, and trojans.

Some forms, like cookies, are part of everyday internet usage, but some types can be maliciously installed on a target’s computer without their consent to ‘spy’  in the most traditional sense of the word.

With Fireworld’s spyware, for example, the hacker could see the targets activity in real-time, access records of keyboard activity, control the computer remotely, save screenshots and webcam shots, and more

‘If you managed to hack his Facebook account, it would only be a matter of minutes to determine whether or not your son is gay,’ the now-deleted article read, according to the LGBTQ group L’Amicale des jeunes and a translation.

‘For that, we have a remarkably effective solution, and that makes every day talk about it: pc spyware.’

The article – which focuses only on sons and makes no mention of female sexuality -went on to list ‘clues’ parents could dig up.

This includes: being more interested in reading and theater than sports, being shy as a young boy, having certain piercings and liking female singers and divas, and ‘taking good care of himself.’

Fireworld also said parents should read their sons’ private Facebook messages and find out which online groups they’re a part of, writing that ‘family is fundamental – That’s why the sexual orientation of your children, directly responsible for the continuation of your family, is very important to you.’

It went on: ‘VERIFY IF IT VISITS GAY TRENDS FORUMS – The world of gays is relatively small and misunderstood.’

Fireworld said parents should find out which online groups they're a part of, writing that 'family is fundamental - That's why the sexual orientation of your children, directly responsible for the continuation of your family, is very important to you.'  A stock image is pictured 

Fireworld said parents should find out which online groups they’re a part of, writing that ‘family is fundamental – That’s why the sexual orientation of your children, directly responsible for the continuation of your family, is very important to you.’  A stock image is pictured 

While trying to boost its own business, the firm also had a clear anti-gay agenda it attempted to mask by being acting pro-family.

‘So you really want to make sure your son’s sexual orientation, because yes, you’re certainly saying that if he’s gay you may never be grandparents and you will not have the happiness of knowing your grandchildren,’ the article read.

It did go on to say to ‘not be selfish’ and ‘accept him,’ but none if this sat well with LGBTQ activists, online commenters, or even French Secretary of State for Equality Marlène Schiappa.

Schiappa retweeted L’Amicale des jeunes du Refuge’s Twitter thread about Fireworld’s article, writing: ‘homophobia and sexism have their roots in the same gender stereotypes. We will fight them together.’

None if this sat well with LGBTQ activists, online commenters, or even French Secretary of State for Equality Marlène Schiappa, who responded to the article 'homophobia and sexism have their roots in the same gender stereotypes. We will fight them together'

None if this sat well with LGBTQ activists, online commenters, or even French Secretary of State for Equality Marlène Schiappa, who responded to the article ‘homophobia and sexism have their roots in the same gender stereotypes. We will fight them together’

The single thread has nearly 1,000 comments, nearly all of which are condemning the company and this use of its product

The single thread has nearly 1,000 comments, nearly all of which are condemning the company and this use of its product

One commenter wrote, 'I really hope that they are ashamed to publish this article which contains only homosexual clich

One commenter wrote, ‘I really hope that they are ashamed to publish this article which contains only homosexual clichés’

'The human being will never stop disappointing me,' another said

‘The human being will never stop disappointing me,’ another said

The single thread has nearly 1,000 comments, nearly all of which are condemning the company and this use of its product.

In response to the activist group’s backlash, Fireworld said the ‘articles had the sole purpose of improving SEO and were not intended to be read by humans.’

According to the company’s site, Fireworld’s software allows users to remotely see how a computer is being used.  

According to the company's site, Fireworld's software allows users to remotely see how a computer is being used. With it, users can see activity in real-time, access records of keyboard activity, control the computer remotely, save screenshots and webcam shots, and more

According to the company’s site, Fireworld’s software allows users to remotely see how a computer is being used. With it, users can see activity in real-time, access records of keyboard activity, control the computer remotely, save screenshots and webcam shots, and more

With it, users can see activity in real-time, access records of keyboard activity, control the computer remotely, save screenshots and webcam shots, and more. 

In France, it is not legal to install spyware on someone else’s computer for monitoring with their consent.

It is not even legal to advertise such use as Fireworld has, which is why companies are usually more subtle in their claims.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk