Phoebe Gates, daughter of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is responding to controversy involving her AI shopping startup, Phia, after reports raised questions about how the app tracks purchases and attributes affiliate commissions. Multiple outlets cite a Bloomberg investigation and reporting that an independent researcher accused Phia of “cookie stuffing,” an alleged practice involving placing tracking cookies without proper user consent in order to claim credit for online sales. The scrutiny centers on whether Phia attributes commissions for purchases it did not legitimately help generate, including claims that it may record or count “fake” or unearned clicks for attribution purposes.
Phia and Gates say the company wants its outcomes to stand on its own merits and disputes any suggestion that the company is benefiting from Gates’ name. According to the reports, Phia acknowledges the concern and states that the tracking issue has been fixed after investigators raised it. As the matter is reviewed, affiliate networks and platforms are reported to have suspended or paused work with Phia pending further investigation.
