Topic: OAP FaceApp

[Skidder.]

Absolutely. Snapchat is another one. Unless we are talking about the same thing.

They had filters that scanned every cm of your face and gave you peripherals like funky glasses, cat ears, big lips, Jamaican hair, anime eyes etc as an overlay. Snapchat said they didnt save the user data as well. But then again, how long does it really take to create an encrypted copy of what the camera sees and delete the "photo" data whilst saving the "encrypted" data at a remote Siberian server?

Just because its a Russian company, people are suddenly wary.

Russia is just like every other country and has been a silent powerhouse in the information era. Think of a lot of the internet virus' that went around the early days, where did the bulk of them come from? Russia's population dwarves many other countries and I don't know... didn't they have this thing called state sponsored surveillance for over 50+ years?

I stated myself that this may be a mitigating factor and will be first to admit it (as I did above).

It seems that virus creation and malware peddling has evolved.

I totally understand the paranoia and think that people who aren't suspicious of this (as many other apps too) are the ones who are crazy.

To repeat  I think people are forgetting that Snapchat, Instagram, etc... they have fully established companies who can be held accountable; generally, people can rationalise, argue the opposite until the cows come home. But that isn't a good comparison at all... It's a social media tool with an already established userbase.

I could go on, but I'd doubt it'd be read, acknowledged or even taken into account. Snapchat is Snapchat. I don't use it myself, but have done and I understand why people would be 'Okay, well, it's a bit like Snapchat, so... it's gotta be okay, right?' - but it isn't Snapchat - it's a totally different app governed by a different company, written by a different team, presumably for different reasons.

[Craig 🤔]

To repeat  I think people are forgetting that Snapchat, Instagram, etc... they have fully established companies who can be held accountable; generally, people can rationalise, argue the opposite until the cows come home. But that isn't a good comparison at all... It's a social media tool with an already established userbase.

I could go on, but I'd doubt it'd be read, acknowledged or even taken into account. Snapchat is Snapchat. I don't use it myself, but have done and I understand why people would be 'Okay, well, it's a bit like Snapchat, so... it's gotta be okay, right?' - but it isn't Snapchat - it's a totally different app governed by a different company, written by a different team, presumably for different reasons.

And your only factual reason for thinking they are dodgy whilst Snapchat is not is because they are based in Russia, right? And not the privacy focused USA?

[Skidder.]

And your only factual reason for thinking they are dodgy whilst Snapchat is not is because they are based in Russia, right? And not the privacy focused USA?

No. But you're trying to draw me into a debate about the ethics of two apps that I do not use while at the same time attempting to insult my intelligence.  If you think I'm that binary, then here's a bit of binary for you - you're either sorely mistaking me for someone who would actually engage with a loaded question like that, or just a simple a WUM.

Snapchat is Snapchat.

This thing is this thing.

It really doesn't go any further there, but if you'd like to enlighten, feel free.

Russia is Russia and America is America, I'm neither for or against either... and the reasoning behind me citing, if you'd read, was that I understand why people would be, as you said, weary of its Russian origins. Like I'd be exactly as understanding of people who used Snapchat who may have suspicions.

However, again, I feel like I have to repeat myself to you - if you, as in Craig, had a problem with Snapchats data usage policies (etc...), and you had issues with FaceApp's T+C's (usage). You'd more have more chance of getting any kind of resolution, answer or at least, information (eventually) from Snapchat (as a Westerner) than you probably would get from FaceApp. That's not Russiaphobia, that's not even paranoia, that's just it.

It's been proven by Zuckerberg coming to the UK to face questions, and that is Facebook. If anything comes on top with Snapchat, they'll have to follow suit. If Parliament asked Russia, FaceApp, its 'owner' or developers to attend an inquiry... Well if you think the Russian administration wouldn't step in at that point then you're just blowing pink smoke rings out your hoop.

The reasonings listed as for, what you're suggesting is Russiaphobia... Well, as binary thinking as that is, I'm not really that way inclined or set, sorry. They're not idiots however, and are just as industrious as any other country. If Snapchat, is dodgy, which it may be, (who knows); FaceApp will be just as dodgy and I suspect that American tech firms, such as Snapchat, would lodge a campaign against them. It wouldn't be hard for a company of its size.

So if you want facts just wait around for a good few years and I'm sure there'll be facts for you to chew on.

In the meantime, I'd rather actually discuss it out, and if one single person stumbles upon this thread, and it alters their opinion on the #challenge, then all of this back-and-forth can only be a very good thing.