FaceApp
| FaceApp | |
|---|---|
| Developer | FaceApp Technology Limited |
| Initial release | December 31, 2016 |
| Written in | Python |
| Operating system | iOS, Android |
| Type | Image editing |
| License | Freemium |
| Website | faceapp.com |
FaceApp is a photo and video editing application for iOS and Android developed by FaceApp Technology Limited, a company based in Cyprus.[1] The app generates highly realistic transformations of human faces in photographs by using neural networks.[2][3] The app can transform a face to make it smile, look younger, look older, or change gender.
History
FaceApp was launched on iOS in January 2017 and on Android in February 2017.[4][5] It was developed by Yaroslav Goncharov, a former executive at Yandex, and created by the Russian company Wireless Lab.[2]
Features
There are multiple options to manipulate the photo uploaded such as editor options of adding an impression, make-up, smiles, hair colors, hairstyles, glasses, age or beards. Filters, lens blur and backgrounds along with overlays, tattoos, and vignettes are also a part of the app.
The gender change transformations of FaceApp have attracted particular interest from the LGBT and transgender communities, due to their ability to realistically simulate the appearance of a person as the opposite gender.[6][7]
Criticism
In 2017, FaceApp faced criticism for a "hot" filter that appeared to lighten users' skin tones, prompting accusations of racial bias. The feature was briefly renamed "spark" before being removed.[8][9] Founder Yaroslav Goncharov attributed the issue to training data bias and apologized.[8][9] In August of that year, more criticism arose when it featured "ethnicity filters" depicting "White", "Black", "Asian", and "Indian". The filters were immediately removed from the app.[10][11]
In 2019, FaceApp faced criticism over its handling of user data, including concerns that it stored users' photos on its servers and could use them for commercial purposes.[12][13][14][15] Founder Yaroslav Goncharov stated that images were processed on cloud servers like Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services, not transferred to Russia, and were temporarily stored only to support editing functions before being deleted.[15][16] U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer raised concerns about data privacy and called for an FBI investigation.[17][18]
See also
References
- ^ "FaceApp: About us". FaceApp.com. 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
- ^ a b Stark, Harold (25 April 2017). "Introducing FaceApp: The Year Of The Weird Selfies". Forbes. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Vincent, James (27 May 2019). "This app uses neural networks to put a smile on anybody's face". The Verge. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Vincent, James (15 February 2017). "Android users can now harness the power of neural networks to alter faces". The Verge. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Tan, Yvette (15 February 2017). "Viral selfie-morphing FaceApp launches on Android after huge iOS success". Mashable. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Cracker, Miz (5 May 2017). "The Magnetic and Emotionally Complex Power of FaceApp's Gender Filter". Slate. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Manning, Allee (1 May 2017). "FaceApp's gender swap is playing mind games with trans users". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ a b McGoogan, Cara (25 April 2017). "FaceApp: Viral selfie app in racism storm over 'hot mode' that lightens skin colour". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ a b Cresci, Elena (25 April 2017). "FaceApp apologises for 'racist' filter that lightens users' skintone". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Wattles, Jackie (August 9, 2017). "FaceApp removing 'ethnicity filters' after outrage". CNNMoney. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
- ^ "FaceApp sparks racist backlash for 'black', 'white' and 'Asian' filters". The Telegraph. August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
- ^ "AI photo editor FaceApp goes viral again on iOS, raises questions about photo library access". TechCrunch. 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- ^ "The worrying thing that happens when you use the viral face aging app". The Independent. 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- ^ Biggs, Tim (2019-07-17). "What's fact and what's fiction when it comes to FaceApp?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- ^ a b Carman, Ashley (2019-07-17). "FaceApp is back and so are privacy concerns". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
- ^ "FaceApp responds to privacy concerns". TechCrunch. 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- ^ "US senator asks FBI to investigate FaceApp". 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ Koetsier, John. "Viral App FaceApp Now Owns Access To More Than 150 Million People's Faces And Names". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-07-18.