The FaceApp Face-plant and Why the Truth About Privacy Hurts

It’s been a little over two weeks now. The buzz around FaceApp and the privacy concerns (outrage?) that came with it have faded fast. How quickly we forget. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, take a look at the video at the bottom of this post.

To recap, FaceApp is an app that can take a picture and alter it in ways to simulate aging and other changes to your appearance. Pretty neat. It went viral. Everyone, including celebrities, loved it. Then they didn’t. People got upset when they heard about the terms of service – something to the tune of FaceApp users grant its creators “perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide” use of YOUR photos. Red flags went up and the pitchforks came out when concern was raised that the Russians were harvesting your photos for who-knows-what evil purpose.

Despite all of the negative attention, FaceApp still has a 4.7 star rating and ranks in the top 10 photo apps on iPhone.

The thing is, FaceApp’s terms of service are not all that different from any of the other apps you might use on a daily basis. When we use any app or service (especially free apps), we are exchanging a bit of our privacy for the right to use the app, watch the video, or enter the sweepstakes. It’s how the internet works and most terms of service and privacy policies that you probably didn’t read will tell you just that.

The truth is… most people don’t care as much about privacy as they say they do. It’s true that your favorite apps are using you – your identity – to fund their operations, build their products, and provide you with the services that people need and enjoy. If Facebook’s privacy missteps were enough to warrant a $5 billion dollar fine, why are we still using it?

The FaceApp fallout makes for a great headline that gets people fired up but it’s par for the course. The outrage quickly fades and we move on in search of the next viral app to satiate our addiction. There’s a simple lesson to be learned… and I’m not suggesting that you abandon social media or delete your apps – would you even consider that option?

It is important to be aware. Awareness of what you are trading in terms of your privacy. Realize that what you do on the internet is never private. Stop and think before you share, post, or download a new app. Is it worth it? Maybe. Maybe not. But if you understand how your data is being used or how it might be abused, you are empowered to decide whether or not the reward is worth the risk. You might even think twice before you check the box to accept the terms of service on the next must have app or […gasp…] read the TOS.

Don’t count on another company to protect your privacy. It’s yours for the the protecting.

#privacy #simplesecurity #protectyoself

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