FaceApp is in the news again, and not for a good reason

Several months ago, watchdog groups around the world sounded the alarm about the Russian-made FaceApp, which raised curious eyebrows.

It just takes a photo you upload to it and ages you, what's the harm in that?

According to the FBI, quite a bit, actually.  The FBI has been quietly investigating the app. They have concluded that considering its ties to Russia, it poses a potential counterintelligence threat, given the data it collects and the policies surrounding them.

Your photos become their property

It is easy to see where the concerns stem from.  According to the app's terms of service, any photos uploaded to the server for 'agification' become the property of the owners of the app.  They can do whatever they want with them.

Ostensibly this clause was included to allow the development team to use altered photos as part of their ongoing marketing campaign, designed to push the app onto even more devices. However, given the conclusion of Intelligence Agencies around the world that Russia meddled in the 2016 US elections, this can be a big problem. The TOS could clearly and easily be abused to serve political ends.

Part of the FBI's recent published notice

"If the FBI assesses that elected officials, candidates, political campaigns, or political parties are targets of foreign influence operations involving FaceApp, the FBI would coordinate notifications, investigate and engage the Foreign Influence Task Force as appropriate."

Our perspective

With the 2020 election cycle beginning to heat up in the US, tensions are running high and apps like this one are facing understandably increased scrutiny.  While it's true that simply being an active participant on social media poses more risk to the average user, the concerns here certainly seem justified.  If you haven't downloaded the app yet, it bears thinking about before you take the plunge.

 

~ As Hill Street Blues' Sgt. Esterhaus always advised: "Hey, let's be careful out there! " ~

 

Meanwhile, check out this report

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The author

Thanks for reading this short post. For more tips on thriving with small business technology, check out the other blog posts at DWPia Blogs. I am also available on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Cybersecurity Expert, Small Business Technology Consultant, Managed Services Provider, Managed IT SupportI am Denis Wilson, President and Principal Consultant for DWP Information Architects. I help professionals grow their business by building a foundation of rock-solid information solutions for smaller healthcare, insurance, financial, legal, and nonprofits firms in Ventura County and San Fernando Valley. And have created cost-effective IT solutions, for over 20 years, specializing in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance. I am also a published author and speaker, working extensively with a variety of organizations, as well as providing small business technology education programs through business and professional associations. This just in: I will be speaking regularly at California Lutheran University's Center for Nonprofit Leadership starting in September.

Contact me if you would like me to speak at your association.