Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni reportedly knew Phia was ‘cookie stuffing’ for months

The shopping app Phia, co-founded by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, is under scrutiny for allegedly engaging in a practice known as 'cookie stuffing.' The controversy began to unfold when reports emerged that Gates and Kianni were aware of the app's deceptive practices for several months. Phia, which had previously touted significant revenue growth, is accused of falsely claiming sales it did not drive. The New York Post noted that the maximum penalty for such actions could be up to 20 years in prison. The Times of India covered a report that suggested Gates had a '24-hour-excuse' for the app's behavior.

Gizmodo and Bloomberg.com both published reports that Gates and Kianni knew about the app's practices. The app's founders have since responded to the accusations, according to People.com. The legal implications of these allegations are significant, with Futurism noting that Gates could face federal prison time. TechCrunch also covered the story, focusing on the duration of Gates' and Kianni's awareness of the issue.

The app's reported revenue growth and the subsequent allegations of deception have drawn attention to the practices of startups in the tech industry. The legal and ethical implications of 'cookie stuffing' are under scrutiny, with potential consequences for the app's founders. The focus now shifts to the legal proceedings and the potential impact on Phia and its co-founders.