Phoebe Gates’ Phia Accused of Cookie Stuffing to Claim Affiliate Commissions

Phia, a shopping browser extension co-founded by Bill Gates’ youngest daughter, Phoebe Gates, helps consumers compare products and prices. Its business intersects with affiliate marketing, in which cookies identify the publisher responsible for a sale and determine who receives a commission. Placing tracking cookies without generating the referral — a practice known as cookie stuffing — can divert payments from legitimate affiliates and undermine trust among merchants, networks and publishers.

Bloomberg reported that internal communications showed Phia’s founders knew the extension was inserting cookies even when it had not driven a purchase, while the vulnerability allegedly remained undisclosed for seven months. Lawyers warned that the conduct could potentially constitute federal wire fraud, an offense carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years. The report centers on the startup’s internal knowledge and possible legal exposure; it does not say Phia or its founders have been criminally charged.