In a meeting set for the purpose of keeping the senate updated on the progress of the FTC and secure next year's funding, it was suggested that spyware criminals be put in jail - not only fined.
Federal Trade Commissioner William Kovacic said concerning the lawbreakers that they "can only be described as vicious organized criminals."
"Many of most serious wrongdoers we observed in this area, I believe, are only going to be deterred if their freedom is withdrawn, said Kovacic. He added that is 
was important for the FTC to work closely with its cases and law enforcement agencies.
Kovacic said this is response to a question from Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), about whether the agency had the tools to effectively battle the software that was secretly planted on a computer.
Pryor also said that "It's a real source of frustration for my constituents, my family, my office...basically anyone who has a computer."
The Commissioner for the FTC Jon Leibowitz asked Congress to increase its fining power in these and other cases, as the agency believes it's too limited.
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