Chuck Schumer Asks FBI To Investigate FaceApp (bbc.com) 108
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer is calling on the FBI to investigate FaceApp after privacy concerns have been raised about the Russian company which developed the app. In a letter posted on Twitter, Mr Schumer called it "deeply disturbing" that personal data of U.S. citizens could go to a "hostile foreign power." The BBC reports: Wireless Lab, a company based in St. Petersburg, says it does not permanently store images, and does not collect troves of data -- only uploading specific photos selected by users for editing. "Even though the core R&D team is located in Russia, the user data is not transferred to Russia," a company statement reported by news site TechCrunch said. Mr Schumer however has asked that the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate FaceApp. "I have serious concerns regarding both the protection of the data that is being aggregated as well as whether users are aware of who may have access to it," his letter reads.
Same thing because of Citizens United (Score:1, Interesting)
They're the same thing. Russia can *legally* fund propaganda in the US as long as it does it through a US subsidiary. Courtesy of Citizen United and a ruling by Brett Kavanaugh back in 2012 that applied to foreign owned companies.
So, let me give you one insane example.
Rand Paul 8th Aug 2018, goes to Moscow with a letter of introduction from Trump. Meets with the Russians.
Dec 19th 2018, sanctions are lifted by Trump on Oleg Deripaska.
Now Oleg decides to build an Aluminum smelting plant in Kentucky, Rand Paul
Re: Same thing because of Citizens United (Score:4, Informative)
Bullshit. You grabbed a pile of coincidences and are trying to claim they are connected.
The Russians are investing $200M in the plant, the German and US government are helping with financing (the Germans are facilitating the sale of German machinery to the plant), not giving the operators grants or other tax breaks (as far as I can tell).
https://www.wsj.com/articles/r... [wsj.com]
Re: Same thing because of Citizens United (Score:2)
Trump lies about meaningless things - my crowd was bigger than Obamaâ(TM)s, etc. - I donâ(TM)t care about those lies.
The prior administration lied about PPACA (keep your doctor, keep your plan, save $2,509/yr, not add one thin dime to the debt), did you/do you care about lies used to upend our healthcare system in the US?
Trump lies have almost ZERO impact on anyoneâ(TM)s lives, so who cares?
Re: (Score:1, Insightful)
So the total cost is 1.7 billion, the russians are investing 200 million... Is that not fairly close to the 12% he stated?
The germans are selling machinery, that's not "helping" in an altruistic way, they are conducting business as usual by selling their products for a profit. Germany is simply a supplier.
Re: (Score:3)
So what you are saying, is that in America, everyone has a right to speak, even foreigners.
That is as it should be. Here is the First Amendment of the United States Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Notice that it says "no law" and not "no law except for forei
Re: Same thing because of Citizens United (Score:1)
Muddled garbage innuendo is not a counter-arguement.
Re: Mod this up! (Score:1)
Wikipedia is not a source in any sense.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
A lot of countries are looking into what Google and Facebook does. For example the EU is prominently featured on Slashdot and hated in the comments for doing so.
So why even make such a statement? Deflecting from the issue at hand?
And you see, the fundamental problem with these tu quoque deflections is that they do nothing about refuting the point that was made, they only deflect by questioning the mor
Re: (Score:1)
not only that, but the US goverment is keen on collecting information on all people traveling to the US.
Re: Answer me a question (no I will)... apk (Score:1)
I am fairly certain that is their objective.
Re: Stupid Democrats, stupid Republicans (Score:2)
WTF are âoethe Russiansâ going to do with your phone data? Seriously? The only reason this is a âoethingâ is because the developers are Russian. Give me a break. If The Russians really wanted to subvert the USA they wouldnâ(TM)t develop a Trojan Horse app, hoping it might become unbelievably popular, so that they could data mine 300 million iPhones.
Would this even be a discussion if the developer wasnâ(TM)t Russian?
a bite late (Score:4, Insightful)
They should be investigating over half of the top free apps and games in the android store. Top free apps are known for data mining and we've always turned a blind eye because we wanted the free services. It's a great conversation to have but this should have happened in 2013-2014, before it reached the current, out of control level it is today. You'll be blown away at how many apps belong to Tencent, the mega chinese holding company.
Re: a bit late (Score:1)
Re: a bit late (Score:1)
Right, and it was Candy Crush & Angry Birds that did us in...
Re: (Score:1)
Re: Congress should.... (Score:1)
Wow, genius. Make data collection a crime, then we wonâ(TM)t need security/encryption.
Thatâ(TM)s as smart as solving the healthcare crisis in the us by simply passing a law that made it a crime to not have a health insurance plan - punishable by a fine based on your income.
Whatâ(TM)s next? Solve homelessness by making it a crime to live outdoors? End hunger by requiring everyone eat three meals a Day? End poverty by making it a crime to have less than $100 in your pocket at all time?
Re: (Score:2)
He is barking up the wrong tree (Score:3, Informative)
It did not need to send a single picture to Russia to achieve the result. All it needed to do is to send the trained ML matrix coefficients.
I wrote on it yesterday - the long read (full version) is on one of my blogs: https://www.fagain.co.uk/node/... [fagain.co.uk]
This guy is an elected official (Score:1)
Derived data might still go to Russia (Score:4, Interesting)
It could be the same verbal trick databrokers use: tell you that your data is not being sold. Because what they're really selling are the algorithmically derived scores and predictions they made from your data. Databrokers in the USA will claim is not your data anymore, that's theirs.
The same could be going on here. Even though your photo might not go to russia, derived data might be. Which is what's the valuable thing anyway.
Re: (Score:2)
But all photos going to Silicon Valley is ok? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
This assumes you trust the US government more than the Russian. Or that an opportunistic entrepreneur is any more evil in one country vs another. As far as we know, it's not going directly into any government's hands.
Re: (Score:2)
Are you planning to travel to Russia? I would think that your data uploaded to Russia is safer for you.
i don't get it (Score:2)
Re: My New "Smart" TV (Score:1)
Insane terms of service a real issue (Score:2)
Suppose you upload a picture of a celebrity, and they sue for copyright violation or royalties - you, the uploader, are on the hood, forever, no recourse, they don't have to take it down so you can stop paying... Just see the link. It gets more and more ridiculous for a long list as fast as Viva can expound on it. It makes punitive terms of service by the usual suspects look completely benign.
Upload
Faceapp Pro (Score:1)
Investigate Chuck Schumer (Score:2)
Afraid of thier enemies being guilty... (Score:2)
Look out for Schumer (Score:1)
Schumer's latest attempt to stir the pot is ridiculous.
He must not have realized that the PRC has been spying on US citizens for years.
That was either okay with him or maybe they paid better.
Amdocs (Score:2)