Factsheet: What are the risks of face swapping applications to data privacy? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 2, 2024
Face-swapping applications have become popular in the recent years as users enjoy the endless possibilities presented by the artificial intelligence assisted applications.  Whilst to many, this may seem to be harmless fun, there have been concerns over data privacy, identity theft and the threat of disinformation.
The applications allow users to swap out their faces with well-known people (celebrities), put their face in a premade video, or swap faces with friends. They also present users with the possibility of imagining what they would look like if they were older, younger and even what their babies would look like.
This factsheet outlines the dangers posed by reckless use of face-changing applications:
Research has shown that most applications subliminally collect the following data:
N.B. Not all face swapping applications collect the data listed above
The best way to keep face-transforming apps from collecting and retaining your data is simply not to use them. But there are ways to remain safe if you do choose to use one of these apps.
Read the terms of service and privacy policy before you download anything or create an account. Many applications provide a link to read these documents before one signs up but if not, find them online.
As a rule, you should prevent apps and services from accessing your social media accounts. When they ask you to sign in with Facebook, Twitter, or another profile, just sign up with an email address instead.
Check for software updates regularly and get the latest version, phone company usually update their security features with each  system update.
FaceApp: In 2019, there was an uproar over FaceApp when a user revealed that the app claimed a license to use users’ photos, names, usernames, and likeness for any purpose, including commercial purposes.
ZAO: ZAO went through similar controversy as FaceApp, also in 2019. The app’s user agreement terms gave it total and permanent rights to repurpose user-generated content as it saw fit.
Reface: The app came under fire for the same reasons as FaceApp and ZAO, granting itself a permanent license to use user photos. Reface has since stated it deletes uploaded photos from its Google Cloud platform within one hour of being uploaded.
https://vpnoverview.com/privacy/apps/face-transforming-apps/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/deepfake-technology-risks-benefits-detection-methods-sahota-%E8%90%A8%E5%86%A0%E5%86%9B-
https://www.mindstick.com/news/3465/unmasking-the-dark-side-of-ai-the-perils-lurking-behind-face-swapping-technology
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