What is FaceApp making you give up and is it really a Russian conspiracy?
Published 26-JUL-2019 09:35 A.M.
|
3 minute read
Hey! Looks like you have stumbled on the section of our website where we have archived articles from our old business model.
In 2019 the original founding team returned to run Next Investors, we changed our business model to only write about stocks we carefully research and are invested in for the long term.
The below articles were written under our previous business model. We have kept these articles online here for your reference.
Our new mission is to build a high performing ASX micro cap investment portfolio and share our research, analysis and investment strategy with our readers.
Click Here to View Latest Articles
FaceApp — yes, I know — in internet years it’s old news.
But in case you missed it, FaceApp is the newest fad-app making waves across social media.
While it’s been around for a couple of years now, it took a hit in 2017 over its “ethnicity filters” that were perceived to be a digital form of blackface. Yet, now it’s back — having surged in popularity over the last few weeks. And surged it has, logging a mammoth 100 million-plus downloads.
So, what’s the attraction?
It’s not particularly innovative, useful, or has any other consequential qualities. Simply, it makes your photo look older, younger, or somehow different than the original — it can even add a smile.
Sounds harmless, right?
Well, apparently not.
Before you go downloading it to get a glimpse of your future face, it’s worth considering what you’re giving up — in addition to your precious time.
The app uses "neural network" artificial intelligence (AI) technology to alter people's faces and the fear is that it will be used in facial recognition software development or even to create deepfake videos (human image synthesis based on AI).
Plus, upon reading the fine print, you’ll find the software creators are granted “perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide” ownership of images used in the app and the freedom to “use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish [and] translate” them.
There’s also concern that the app can scrape private information and data from a user’s photo album, messages, location, IP addresses and websites visited.
Furthermore, warnings are being issued about FaceApp’s links to “the Russians”.
The US Democratic National Committee warned its presidential campaigns not to use the viral face-transforming app, and to “delete the app immediately.” The DNC’s reason for concern was the software’s Russian developers.
While the app’s developers, Wireless Lab, are headquartered in St. Petersburg with its R&D team, its CEO, Yaroslav Goncharov said that no user data is transferred into the country. He added that “most images” are deleted from company servers within 48 hours.
Yet, despite the privacy concerns, the new selfie-alteration trend seems to be on the rise. Apps including Snapchat, Facetune, Instagram, MSQRD (pronounced ‘masquerade’), and even Facebook offer selfie altering tools. While these may not all have suspected Russian links, there are reasons to be concerned —and it’s not just selfie apps.
Many types of apps, once installed, send sensitive user data including location, photos, and microphone information to data brokers, ad networks, and other technology companies. In fact, almost all websites have embedded trackers.
But there is a positive from all this. While the panic around FaceApp was possibly overblown, the whole saga has highlighted just how vulnerable our personal information is online and has raised awareness of the risks. It might not invoke enough fear to change behaviour on a large-scale, but at least we’ve gained greater awareness around the threats to our data and privacy.
Personally, and possibly foolishly, my curiosity got the better of me. And now, frankly, I’m more concerned around how I may look in the future.
If I’ve learnt nothing more — I’ll start wearing more sunscreen.
General Information Only
S3 Consortium Pty Ltd (S3, ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’) (CAR No. 433913) is a corporate authorised representative of LeMessurier Securities Pty Ltd (AFSL No. 296877). The information contained in this article is general information and is for informational purposes only. Any advice is general advice only. Any advice contained in this article does not constitute personal advice and S3 has not taken into consideration your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Please seek your own independent professional advice before making any financial investment decision. Those persons acting upon information contained in this article do so entirely at their own risk.
Conflicts of Interest Notice
S3 and its associated entities may hold investments in companies featured in its articles, including through being paid in the securities of the companies we provide commentary on. We disclose the securities held in relation to a particular company that we provide commentary on. Refer to our Disclosure Policy for information on our self-imposed trading blackouts, hold conditions and de-risking (sell conditions) which seek to mitigate against any potential conflicts of interest.
Publication Notice and Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is current as at the publication date. At the time of publishing, the information contained in this article is based on sources which are available in the public domain that we consider to be reliable, and our own analysis of those sources. The views of the author may not reflect the views of the AFSL holder. Any decision by you to purchase securities in the companies featured in this article should be done so after you have sought your own independent professional advice regarding this information and made your own inquiries as to the validity of any information in this article.
Any forward-looking statements contained in this article are not guarantees or predictions of future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, and which may cause actual results or performance of companies featured to differ materially from those expressed in the statements contained in this article. S3 cannot and does not give any assurance that the results or performance expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this article will actually occur and readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
This article may include references to our past investing performance. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of our future investing performance.
