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Every one I know is already using either Facebook Messenger (which has the same face scanning features) and/or Snapchat (which also has this feature). This is

Every one I know is already using either Facebook Messenger (which has the same face scanning features) and/or Snapchat (which also has this feature). This is not new. I've been using FaceApp since its release. There are a lot of other similar apps that I've used in the past. Especially makeup simulator apps. BeautyPlus, YouCal, InstaBeauty, BeautyCam, Facetune, Photo Plastic, Visage Lab, etc.

bengotow 7y ago
I think FaceApp in particular strikes a chord in the United States because it's owned by a Russian Company. Name + faces (and therefore age and gender and race) + Location is the kind of data that enabled a lot of granular facebook ad targeting in 2016.
- Raphmedia 7y ago
  As someone who is not an American citizen and does not live in the United-States, I get the same fears and issues from companies based in the US. I distrust the American and Russian governments and companies equally.
  - armandososa 7y ago
    As a Mexican, I honestly distrust Trump more than Putin.
    - kofejnik 7y ago
      and that is a serious mistake, I believe
- umeshunni 7y ago
  > I think FaceApp in particular strikes a chord in the United States because it's owned by a Russian Company. So, it's purely Xenophobia then.
  - bengotow 7y ago
    Hmm, perhaps - though I feel the distrust progressives in the US feel toward Russia is warranted given their (well investigated) efforts to meddle in US politics, etc. I think xenophobia is more of an /unwarranted/ fear + hatred. It is unfortunate that this fear extends to private Russian businesses, but it's difficult to discern how separate entities really are in tightly managed countries. I totally agree this is getting into some cold-war-era territory though... US vs. Huawei has a similar vibe.
- hanspeter 7y ago
  Except they don't have names. Just a photo. And maybe an IP address. Photos that could also easily be scraped from Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram etc.
barronlroth 7y ago
I fully disagree. FaceApp value is that it does its job significantly better than the US competition. Users have the "old" filter on Snapchat and Facebook for years at this point, but FaceApp really has taken it to the next level. Their overnight success is not surprising. I'd tell you to try it for yourself, but I understand the hesitation.
- Raphmedia 7y ago
  As I said, I've been using it since its release. It's not any significantly better than it was back then. Snapchat's are also very similar in quality. Before this whole craze about the old filter, people trended on the gender change filter. That one was on Snapchat and quickly became a meme. It was even more amazing since it was a video filter, so you could move around and stay as your opposite gender.

bengotow 7y ago

I think FaceApp in particular strikes a chord in the United States because it's owned by a Russian Company. Name + faces (and therefore age and gender and race) + Location is the kind of data that enabled a lot of granular facebook ad targeting in 2016.

Raphmedia 7y ago
As someone who is not an American citizen and does not live in the United-States, I get the same fears and issues from companies based in the US. I distrust the American and Russian governments and companies equally.
- armandososa 7y ago
  As a Mexican, I honestly distrust Trump more than Putin.
  - kofejnik 7y ago
    and that is a serious mistake, I believe
umeshunni 7y ago
> I think FaceApp in particular strikes a chord in the United States because it's owned by a Russian Company. So, it's purely Xenophobia then.
- bengotow 7y ago
  Hmm, perhaps - though I feel the distrust progressives in the US feel toward Russia is warranted given their (well investigated) efforts to meddle in US politics, etc. I think xenophobia is more of an /unwarranted/ fear + hatred. It is unfortunate that this fear extends to private Russian businesses, but it's difficult to discern how separate entities really are in tightly managed countries. I totally agree this is getting into some cold-war-era territory though... US vs. Huawei has a similar vibe.
hanspeter 7y ago
Except they don't have names. Just a photo. And maybe an IP address. Photos that could also easily be scraped from Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram etc.

barronlroth 7y ago

I fully disagree. FaceApp value is that it does its job significantly better than the US competition. Users have the "old" filter on Snapchat and Facebook for years at this point, but FaceApp really has taken it to the next level. Their overnight success is not surprising. I'd tell you to try it for yourself, but I understand the hesitation.

Raphmedia 7y ago
As I said, I've been using it since its release. It's not any significantly better than it was back then. Snapchat's are also very similar in quality. Before this whole craze about the old filter, people trended on the gender change filter. That one was on Snapchat and quickly became a meme. It was even more amazing since it was a video filter, so you could move around and stay as your opposite gender.