DNC Warns 2020 Candidates Not To Use Russian-Created FaceApp

[demmiblue]

The DNC’s security chief warned 2020 candidates not to use the Russian-developed FaceApp, an application that lets users transform photos of themselves to see what they’d look like as old people, among other things.

According to CNN, Bob Lord told the presidential hopefuls that “the novelty is not without risk,” out of concern that the data will be misused by the app’s Russian developers.

“It’s not clear at this point what the privacy risks are, but what is clear is that the benefits of avoiding the app outweigh the risks,” he added.

The DNC was famously hacked by Russian actors during the 2016 election, and has since taken steps to gird itself and the many candidates for similar attacks leading up to the 2020 contest.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/dnc-2020-candidates-faceapp-russia

[SidDithers]

1. Nobody should be using it...

https://nypost.com/2019/07/17/faceapp-security-concerns-russians-now-own-all-your-old-photos/

But be warned: FaceApp, which you grant permission to access your photo gallery, also includes in their Terms and Conditions that they have the right to modify, reproduce and publish any of the images you process through its AI.

That means that your face could end up being commercialized — or worse.

UK-based Digitas strategist James Whatley said on Twitter, “You grant FaceApp a perpetual, irrevocable… royalty-free… license to use, adapt, publish, distribute your user content… in all media formats… when you post or otherwise share.”

That means they can also use your real name, your username or “any likeness provided” in any format without notifying, much less paying, you. They can retain that material as long as they want, even after you delete the app, and you won’t be able to stop them. Even those who set their Apple iOS photo permissions to “never,” as Tech Crunch points out, are not protected against the terms.

Avoid it like the plague.

Sid

[saidsimplesimon]

2. ICQ, instant message and chat

is owned by the Russian government. They claim to have 8-9 million members.

[Bayard]

3. Why would anyone want to see an older version of themselves?

Reality is bad enough.