Experts express 'security concern' over viral FaceApp trend

Fans are going crazy for the app

Author: William MarriottPublished 18th Jul 2019
Last updated 18th Jul 2019

The 'FaceApp' has become the biggest viral trend in the past few days. From making yourself look old to making yourself look like a little baby, it's a great laugh for everyone in the office!

Even celebrities, such as Gordon Ramsay, Sam Smith and the Jonas Brothers, have been getting involved by posting their aged pictures on social media.

Taking to Twitter, the Jonas Brothers posted this hilarious 'throw-forward' picture, captioning it, 'When you take a trip to the Year 3000'.

Swipe through to see the Jonas Brothers transformation over the years

2006

Ah, Kevin. That's the face we all pulled when we realised how BLOODY YOUNG Nick looks.

2006

You know when you walk past those barber shops with really old example photos in the window?


Yeah, that.

2007

Fun fact: Kevin Jonas made the bandana trend cool way before Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski.

2008

Joe's MySpace fringe is nothing short of iconic.

2009

JoBros + Hannah Montana = our entire childhood in one image. SIMPLER TIMES.

2011

And, just like that, puberty happened.

2013

We stanned buzzcut Nick #sorrynotsorry.

2019

So pouty. So suave. So...FASHWAAN.

But experts have now warned that there are concerns over the level of security the app has because it's got permanent access to your photos, even without your permission.

Taking to Twitter, James Whatley, a strategist from Digitas. UK, wrote, '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'.

The app, which gives you the option to age yourself, is also said to be allowed to use your name, username or 'any likeness provided'. Reports suggest this means users won't be able to complain about having their photo taken or have the ability to take the image down.

Speaking to the MailOnline, Ariel Hochstadt, Security Expert from vpnMentor blog, said he has always been wary of apps like this one, especially if the app were to be hacked.

He commented, "Hackers...are able to record the websites that people visit, and the activities they perform in those websites, but they don't always know who are those users.

"With so many breaches, they can get information and hack cameras that are out there, and be able to create a database of people all over the world, with information these people didn't imagine is collected on them".

Fans have taken to Twitter to express their response to these claims, with one writing, 'But I love it!', whilst another said, 'May be we should be more careful'.

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