Freelancing giant Fiverr comes under hot water for platforming illegal services

The dream of Fiverr was to offer quick and easy freelance services - graphic design, small projects, an editor. But like many other public marketplaces, a seedy industry has taken root: the right search can lead users to accounts providing more illicit services, like hiring an unlicensed detective or installing software to track a significant other.

The news highlights how the struggle to moderate content is not limited to large social networks and platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Other sites, like Fiverr, also have trouble policing their platforms. Motherboard has covered extensively the harm that malware used in abusive relationships, sometimes known as spouseware, or how technology can enable stalking.

"I have undetectable spyware to monitor your cheating spouse, staffs [sic] and kids gadgets," one listing on Fiverr found by Motherboard reads. For $5, customers can apparently buy malware that will record keystrokes and websites visited, and for $400 can buy software that will allegedly steal a target's passwords and email contents. The quality of the malware on offer is unclear.

Another listing offers to "covertly deploy [a] tracking device to a vehicle."

"I will deploy a covert tracking device on a vehicle, test and report to you after 7 days with times and locations indicated by tracker. Range of deployment options," the listing reads. The listing explicitly says the tracking could be used to track a partner the customer suspects of cheating, and the seller claims to be from a company that has "specialists" in divorce matters.

Read more here.

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