The “viral” level of FaceApp only proves that we will never value our own privacy, voluntarily “giving” personal data just to get some entertaining photos!

In early 2017, an application called FaceApp has attracted a lot of users’ attention using artificial intelligence (AI) to make faces become older or younger and even convert their gender.

This week, this application once again became the focus, especially after world famous stars like rapper Drake and Jonas Brothers posted their old images on social networks. So people race to download FaceApp to see how they will look when they get older. FaceApp was developed by Russia’s Wireless Lab and is currently one of the leading free apps in Apple’s App Store.

Three Jonas brothers aging version.

By the middle of this week, there were growing concerns about FaceApp’s privacy. For many people, editing photos with the application is merely a harmless entertainment, but in fact, they do not know that they are capable of facing a series of network security concerns.

According to Wireless Lab terms and conditions, user images can be used for purposes they did not expect. FaceApp’s privacy policy notes that its affiliates and service providers may transfer user-collected information (including personal information) to other countries and regions worldwide. gender. Your photos can be used abroad, including Russia, the government has been accused of interfering in the 2016 US presidential election.

FaceApp owns and can use its uploading service images in any way they want. That includes putting the user’s face on a sign to use it in developing face recognition technology.

FaceApp caused many concerns about user privacy.

But the fact is, despite knowing (or not knowing) these terms before downloading, millions of people around the world still want to use this application. And that further highlights a problem: After more than a year of the serious analytical privacy scandal Cambridge Analytica in the technology industry, users still have little concern about careful consideration before delivering data. personal to others.

At the same time, we also realize how little we know about companies collecting and using our personal information.

But then, Joshua Nozzi, the first developer to give a warning about FaceApp and some other security researchers, reassured the initial concerns that FaceApp is collecting all the images in the user’s smartphone. Similarly, the fact that a company is based in Russia does not mean it is a tool of the government.

Wireless Lab said in a statement provided to TechCrunch: “Most images will be deleted from our server within 48 hours of uploading.” However, people still do not worry because this company offers terms of service that “users grant FaceApp permanent, irrevocable, free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish and display their content … ”

As such, FaceApp can almost do whatever they want with your selfie. In fact, many other large technology companies have also made similar provisions over the years and users, of course still accept.

You probably haven’t forgotten the scandal of leaking Cambridge Analytica data. The data collected through a personality test “This seemingly harmless This Is Your Digital Life” on Facebook is said to have been provided to Cambridge Analytica to serve many purposes of this company. Amazon has also been accused of hiring a global team to eavesdrop on users talking to Echo smart speakers.

Although warning about the frequently used personal data collection and usage applications, when it comes to new features that allow aging of FaceApp’s face, millions of people still can’t suppress curiosity and despite exchanging your personal information just to get some entertaining photos.

Technology companies need to be criticized for using personal data of users, but we also need to reconsider how we voluntarily provide information to them!