{"id":95977,"date":"2019-07-18T12:25:32","date_gmt":"2019-07-18T19:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=95977"},"modified":"2025-08-12T20:39:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T03:39:41","slug":"faceapp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/faceapp\/","title":{"rendered":"Downloaded FaceApp? Here\u2019s How Your Privacy Is Now Affected"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve been on social media recently, you\u2019ve probably seen some people in your feed posting images of themselves looking elderly. That\u2019s because FaceApp<\/a>, an AI face editor that went viral in 2017, is making a major comeback with the so-called FaceApp Challenge \u2014 where celebrities and others use the app\u2019s old age filter to add decades onto their photos. While many folks have participated in the fun, there are some concerns about the way that the app operates when it comes to users\u2019 personal privacy.<\/p>\n

According to Forbes<\/a>, over 100,000 million people have reportedly downloaded FaceApp from the Google Play Store and the app is the number one downloaded app on the Apple App Store in 121 different countries. But what many of these users are unaware of is that when they download the app, they are granting FaceApp full access to the photos they have uploaded. The company can then use these photos for their benefit, such as training their AI facial recognition algorithm. And while there is currently nothing to indicate that the app is taking photos for malicious intent, it is important for users to be aware that their personal photos may be used for other purposes beyond the original intent.<\/p>\n

Tips to help keep your personal information secure<\/h2>\n

So, how can users enjoy the entertainment of apps like FaceApp<\/a> without sacrificing their privacy? Follow these tips to help keep your personal information secure:<\/p>\n