App that lets users ‘become celebs’ sparks privacy fears

SHANGHAI: A Chinese faceswapping app that allows users to convincingly superimpose their own likeness over characters in movies or TV shows has rapidly become one of the country’s most downloaded apps, but has triggered a backlash over privacy fears.

Released on Friday, the Zao app went viral as Chinese users pounced on the chance to see themselves act out scenes from well-known movies using “deepfake” technology, which has already prompted concerns elsewhere over potential misuse.

Users provide a series of selfies in which they blink, open their mouth and make expressions, which the app will then use to realistically morph the person’s animated likeness onto movies, TV shows or other content.

But the company was forced to issue a statement on Sunday pledging changes after critics attacked the app’s privacy policy which gave it “free, irrevocable, permanent, transferable, and relicenseable” rights to all usergenerated content.

Critics warn that the technology can be used to create bogus videos to manipulate elections, defame someone, or potentially spark unrest by spreading misinformation on a massive scale. “We understand the concerns about privacy. We will fix the issues that we didn’t take into consideration, which will take some time,” a statement by Zao said.

Zao is owned by Momo Inc, a Tinder-like Chinese dating service that is listed on the US Nasdaq.