Millions of people have been fascinated by the FaceApp mobile application that allows users to alter their age, gender, or other facial aspects for curiosity or entertainment purposes. While many have had fun seeing what they may look like in 40 years, the app’s rapid popularity has caught the attention and concern of the U.S. government.
Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer recently sent a letter to the FBI and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) detailing concerns about privacy risks pertaining to the app. Schumer believes the Russian company, Wireless Lab that developed FaceApp could potentially use the app to leak data to the Russian government. However, the FBI and FTC are not currently investigating the app.
Though the FaceApp was first released in 2017, it has had a viral spike in popularity in the last week with nearly 13 million new downloads since July 10, according to the app analytics firm Sensor Tower.
Wireless Lab has since released a statement ensuring that FaceApp is safe to use and does not save users’ data long term or share information with outside entities, such as the government. Using Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud to store app data, the company claims that images remain on its servers for up to 48 hours before being deleted. The company also detailed that most users go not log into FaceApp to utilize the app’s features, suggesting that the app is unable to collect identification details to match with images.
TechCrunch noted that Wireless Lab’s research and development team is based in Russia, but the company insists that user data does not go to Russia. One of the primary concerns about the app’s behavior is that though (iOS) users can restrict access to their camera roll, the app still goes through the camera roll so that users can select individual images to upload for editing.
While the Democratic National Convention has warned 2020 presidential campaigns against using the app, the general public is not held to such standards. Only time will tell whether the FaceApp craze will phase out like the gender-swapping filter from Snapchat, but it is likely countless users will keep the app on their smartphones for some time.
Luckily, users can easily cancel FaceApp subscriptions if they have paid for the professional version of the app and should be advised to do so if they have any concerns. Both Android and iOS allow users to manage app subscriptions through their respective app stores. Further deleting the app will sever continued access to users’ data.
