Phoebe Gates' Phia Embroiled in Cookie Stuffing Scandal

Phoebe Gates, daughter of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is facing allegations of fraud surrounding her startup Phia. The company's shopping app used a technique called 'cookie stuffing' to collect commissions on sales made by others, even if the app did not facilitate the purchase.

The investigation by Bloomberg accuses Phia of engaging in this practice and suggests that Gates and her co-founder Sophia Kianni were aware of it months before it became public knowledge. The company has since disabled the features in question and plans to reverse incorrectly assigned transactions.

Gates had emphasized that she did not want to build her company on her parents' wealth, but rather prove herself as a successful entrepreneur in her own right. However, the controversy surrounding Phia's business model has raised questions about whether Gates had adequate control over it.