MyFone.mobi is a device that enables people to view both the traffic and the content of texts from other people's phones. Promoted as a way of parents keeping their children safe by alerting them to any phone bullying or other problems, it is actually a process whereby parents can track their children  wherever they go and whatever they do. Of course the device can have much greater consequences as well. It can be used for husbands to spy on wives or for bosses to snoop on their staff. We do not know what safeguards actually exist to prevent the device being used by other people wishing to tap into a person's private messages. In the Close-up item on the night of Wednesday 23 March it appeared that it required the consent of the cellphone user. However there was no elaboration about how that consent was to be obtained or whether it was actually required to operate the device.

The argument that the device will only be used to prevent school bullying is naive in the extreme. As there can be no control over who may use it or the purposes to which it may be put, it is more likely to be used as a control process to limit the freedom of expression and movement of the person been snooped on. This is uncomfortably close to the bullying behaviour it purports to eliminate.

Besides, is it not illegal under Part 9A of the Crimes Act 1961: Crimes against personal privacy?

For news comment and NZCCL response view http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4805461/Worrying-product-snoops-on-childrens-phone-calls