Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Myths and Risks in App That Gives You Peek Into Older Self
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
July 18, 2019

Share

SAN FRANCISCO — Is a peek into the future worth your privacy in the present? That concern was pushed to the spotlight this week with the resurgence of a smartphone app that uses artificial intelligence to transform your current face into your younger and older selves.
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.
That’s not actually true, but the scuttle serves as a good reminder to think twice before downloading new apps.
Even large, mainstream apps routinely collect user data. But many trendy-at-the-moment apps are guilty of mining user data as a primary purpose. Some personality quizzes on Facebook and similar services collect user information as a business, opening people up to breaches such as in the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

No Evidence the App Is Uploading Anything Other Than the Photo Selected

On Wednesday, the ranking Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, wrote in a letter to the FBI and Federal Trade Commission that he’s concerned FaceApp could pose “national security and privacy risks for millions of U.S. citizens.” The New York Democrat is asking the two agencies to assess the situation.

“I’m always looking for privacy concerns. When it’s not happening, it’s not happening.” — Guardian Firewall CEO Will Strafach
As for FaceApp, the app grabs a photo only if you specifically select it to see your face change, security researcher and Guardian Firewall CEO Will Strafach said.
The confusion comes from an iPhone feature that shows your photo library within the app. It is an Apple feature that lets you select a specific photo, but doesn’t give the app full access to the library, even though it may appear that way.
You have the option of granting access to your entire photo library, but even then, there is no evidence the app is uploading anything other than the photo selected.
“I’m always looking for privacy concerns,” said Strafach, who used a network analyzer tool to track what was happening. “When it’s not happening, it’s not happening.”
There’s a version of FaceApp for Android, but those phones don’t tap photo libraries the same way.
That’s not to say the app isn’t free of problems, Strafach said.
Photo of FaceApp example
FaceApp uses artificial intelligence to transform your current face into your younger and older selves. (Instagram/@jayboice)

No User Data Is Transferred to Russia

Among other things, photos get sent to the cloud for processing in both the iPhone and Android versions, exposing them to hacking and other problems. FaceApp does not explicitly tell users that the photos are being sent to the cloud. Some apps try to limit exposure by doing the processing on the devices themselves, not in the cloud.

“Bottom line is they were handling sensitive data and they handled it cavalierly and that’s just not cool.” — Guardian Firewall CEO Will Strafach
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.
Wireless Lab told technology news site TechCrunch that it may store users’ photos in the cloud, but “most” are deleted after 48 hours. It said no user data is transferred to Russia.
The company has not responded to questions from The Associated Press. It told TechCrunch that users can request to have their data deleted.
Even with those admissions, Strafach urged people to resist the pull of the app. He said the app should have been upfront and told users it was processing photos in the cloud rather than on phones.
“Bottom line is they were handling sensitive data and they handled it cavalierly and that’s just not cool,” he said.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Anonymous Donor Gives $2.5 Million to Terry’s House at CRMC

DON'T MISS

US Will Aim for UK to Cut Its Automotive Tariff to 2.5% From 10%, WSJ Reports

DON'T MISS

Secret Search or Meet the Finalists? Debate Rages as Fresno Nears Its Superintendent Pick

DON'T MISS

Kerman Police Arrest Four for DUI, Another for Drug Offense

DON'T MISS

Outrage Grows to Assembly Bill That Would Slash Solar Contract Benefits

DON'T MISS

Will Fresno Unified Sacrifice Another Generation of Students? The Choice Is Ours

DON'T MISS

US to Phase out Many Synthetic Food Dyes, Kennedy and FDA Head Say

DON'T MISS

Tesla CEO Musk Says Will Scale Back Government Work Starting in May

DON'T MISS

FAA Takes Action to Prevent Helicopter Incidents Near Las Vegas Airport

DON'T MISS

Trump: No Plans to Fire Fed Chair Powell, but Wants Lower Rates

UP NEXT

Trump: No Plans to Fire Fed Chair Powell, but Wants Lower Rates

UP NEXT

Top Producer at ’60 Minutes’ Quits Amid Trump Lawsuit Pressure

UP NEXT

Israeli Strikes Kill 17 in Gaza and Destroy Heavy Equipment Needed to Clear Rubble

UP NEXT

At Least 20 Feared Killed in Militant Attack on Tourists in Indian Kashmir

UP NEXT

Rubio Will Not Attend Ukraine Peace Talks in London

UP NEXT

Pope Francis’ Funeral to Be Held Saturday, With Public Viewing Starting Wednesday

UP NEXT

Fox News Host? A Sheriff? Is There a Republican Who Can Finally Win Statewide in CA Again?

UP NEXT

Israel Steps up Gaza Strikes, Polio Vaccination Halted by Blockade

UP NEXT

Russia’s Putin Discusses US-Iran Nuclear Talks With Leader of Oman

UP NEXT

Paul Atkins Sworn in as US SEC Chair

Kerman Police Arrest Four for DUI, Another for Drug Offense

12 hours ago

Outrage Grows to Assembly Bill That Would Slash Solar Contract Benefits

12 hours ago

Will Fresno Unified Sacrifice Another Generation of Students? The Choice Is Ours

13 hours ago

US to Phase out Many Synthetic Food Dyes, Kennedy and FDA Head Say

13 hours ago

Tesla CEO Musk Says Will Scale Back Government Work Starting in May

13 hours ago

FAA Takes Action to Prevent Helicopter Incidents Near Las Vegas Airport

13 hours ago

Trump: No Plans to Fire Fed Chair Powell, but Wants Lower Rates

14 hours ago

Jury Finds NY Times Not Liable in Sarah Palin Defamation Case

14 hours ago

RFK Jr Plans to Phase Out Artificial Dyes From the US Food Supply

14 hours ago

Top Producer at ’60 Minutes’ Quits Amid Trump Lawsuit Pressure

14 hours ago

Anonymous Donor Gives $2.5 Million to Terry’s House at CRMC

Terry’s House received a $2.5 million gift from an  anonymous donor on Tuesday. The house is a “home away from home” for f...

11 hours ago

11 hours ago

Anonymous Donor Gives $2.5 Million to Terry’s House at CRMC

A port vehicle drives past trailers and shipping containers at the Port of Belfast, Northern Ireland January 2, 2021. REUTERS/Phil Noble
11 hours ago

US Will Aim for UK to Cut Its Automotive Tariff to 2.5% From 10%, WSJ Reports

11 hours ago

Secret Search or Meet the Finalists? Debate Rages as Fresno Nears Its Superintendent Pick

Kerman police arrested four suspected DUI drivers and one person for alleged drug sales during a traffic enforcement operation Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Shutterstock)
12 hours ago

Kerman Police Arrest Four for DUI, Another for Drug Offense

12 hours ago

Outrage Grows to Assembly Bill That Would Slash Solar Contract Benefits

13 hours ago

Will Fresno Unified Sacrifice Another Generation of Students? The Choice Is Ours

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary announces the FDA’s intent to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation’s food supply during a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 22, 2025. (REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)
13 hours ago

US to Phase out Many Synthetic Food Dyes, Kennedy and FDA Head Say

Tesla CEO Elon Musk boards Air Force One with U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) as they depart for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, U.S., March 22, 2025. (REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo/File Photo)
13 hours ago

Tesla CEO Musk Says Will Scale Back Government Work Starting in May

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend