The US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly issued a warning that any mobile app created in Russia could be a “potential counterintelligence threat.”
In a report from CBS News, it states the FBI warned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer last month.
The FBI told Schumer that it considers any mobile app or similar service, developed in Russia, such as FaceApp, to be a threat, the article states. This is due to the data the products collect, its privacy and terms of use policies and the legal mechanisms which permits companies to access data in foreign countries.
This comment comes in relation to the FaceApp, a mobile app which uses AI to age people in photos, which raised concerns of hidden agendas. One accusation was the app gained access to a users’ entire photo library, but this was soon shot down by cybersecurity company Guardian Firewall which stated it said that was not what was happening.
Another accusation the app faced was that its privacy terms and conditions gave it ownership of the content created. Digitas UK strategy partner James Whatley tried to quench fears by stating this is a similar term imposed by multiple social media platforms.
According to CBS, Schumer has urged the FBI to investigate FaceApp, stating it would be “deeply troubling” for sensitive personal information to be at the hands of Russia.
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