SAN FRANCISCO: A popular app that uses artificial intelligence to transform your current face into your younger and older selves is under fire for privacy concerns.
Security researchers say that only photos users specifically select to be analyzed are accessible by FaceApp. Other photos in smartphone’s libraries are not being accessed, even if they show up in a display within the app.
But the app isn’t free of privacy concerns. Each selected photo is uploaded to the cloud to be processed – which FaceApp does not explicitly tell users.
FaceApp says it is deleting most of these photos quickly, but it is unclear how many it is keeping and what they are being used for.
People raised fears on Twitter and other social media sites that on iPhones, FaceApp would be able to see and upload all your photos, including screenshots with sensitive financial or health information or photos of kids with the names of their schools in the background.
FaceApp’s privacy policy also says it is using data from the app to serve targeted ads and to develop new products and features. It says it does not sell data to third party apps, but lists many exceptions including one that allows it to share data after removing information that identifies users.
FaceApp, which is developed in Russia by Wireless Lab, has had surges of viral popularity before. The app also allows people to swap their genders or add facial hair or makeup.
(with inputs from Associated Press)
Comment