Self-Portrait Apps: The Hidden Dangers

How many of us have seen a very flattering ‘real-life’ photo of someone and thought, “Is that really what they look like?” We are well beyond the days when you could simply filter and edit pictures. At this point, a skillful craftsman can make Grandma Moses look like Scarlett Johansson. So, if you’re perusing dating sites, beware!

But self-portraiture has some new AI (Artificial Intelligence) gimmicks that produce some amazing images that put the subject into intriguing, animated scenarios.

It's not surprising that when people see these images, it has exactly the effect desired by the app developer: getting people to ask, “How do I make one of these?”

Self-portrait apps have entered a new realm. You can now make yourself look like a character in a hit animated film. It still ‘sort of’ looks like you, but a fantasy version with perfect hair, teeth, skin, and facial features.

The latest of these modern vanity marvels to show up on the, “Hey everybody! Look at me!” scene is Lensa AI. To get started, you upload about 10 photos so the app can feed that data into its AI algorithm. Then, once it maps your facial features, it generates several fantasy selfies of you.

But these ‘magical’ images aren’t free. You can download the app for free and use it in a limited fashion, but good, quality self-portraits are going to cost you – but the price is relatively low. You can use the app for $29.99 per year or $7.99 per month. There are several pricing tiers for its avatar packs and membership access.

They want you to think that it’s all just harmless digital fun. Vanity is an easy sell, and who doesn’t want to have a fabulous profile pic?

But take a closer look: with a few of these self-portrait apps, you’ll be paying more than you know. The cost comes from the data privacy rights you’re giving up, which can go far beyond the app itself. We will take a good, hard look at the prime example: Lensa AI.

Is Lensa AI safe to use?

Thanks to laws like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), software and app developers are required to tell you what they do with your data. The problem is that most people don’t read about it – when was the last time you actually read an app or website’s ‘Terms & Conditions?’ Looking at the app at the Mac App Store, a few major concerns jump out.

They Are Tracking You!

The Lensa AI app has the ability to track your phone activity as soon as you download it. The app store states that the app may use purchases and unique identifiers to track you, but not just while in Lensa AI - it can track you everywhere you go in your digital travels - across websites and apps owned by other companies. Is that too much to give up for some cool pics?

Data Collection

Just like malware, Lensa AI worms its way through your device looking for a lot of different data points. You gave your permission to do this by downloading it. Some of the tracking links to you personally (such as linked to your name, IP address, or phone number). It collects a lot of other data, but not with your name or another identifier on it.

Data collected and linked to you:

User content (such as the images you upload)

Data collected, but not linked to you:

Purchases you make on websites or apps

Usage data for apps, etc.

Identifiers (this isn’t specified, but could mean things like city or gender)

Diagnostics from your device

Loss of Rights to Your Uploaded Images

What Lensa AI and other apps like it do with your data is a grey area. Many tech companies, such as Facebook, have been known to act irresponsibly with user data. Many are purposely vague in their terms and conditions, leaving the door open to nefarious practices.

One section from the Lensa AI Terms to which users agree states the following:

“…solely for the purposes of operating or improving Lensa, you grant us a time-limited, revocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully paid, transferable, sub-licensable license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, create derivative works of your User Content, without any additional compensation to you…”

This is a meaningful phrase: “solely for the purposes of operating or improving Lensa” – quite a chameleonlike term – it could mean just about anything. It could mean that to make more money to operate the business, the company needs to use your images. Note that it also states it can modify, distribute, etc. YOUR user content.

That effectively destroys your rights to the images you create.

How do we protect data privacy?

Don’t Nibble at Every Hook

More and more, people tend to jump on every new fad that comes along. It can be hard when you see all your friends using a new app but try waiting a week. Most likely those avatar images from the latest selfie app won’t be blowing up your feed anymore.

For Once, Actually READ An App’s Terms & Conditions

We all do it - just click on ‘I agree’ to get to the fun stuff, but it’s smart to take the time to read an app’s terms. You are often giving up more data privacy rights than you realize. This includes giving an app the ability to track just about everything you do on your device. School yourself on what’s at risk before you download a new app.

Restrict Data Collection

If you still just have to have that new app, at least make it as secure as possible. This includes taking the time to restrict its data collection features, wherever possible.

Turn off data sharing in your phone’s privacy and Cybersecurity settings. For the Lensa AI app, you can also contact the company to request that it delete your data from its servers. Its privacy policy states to email privacy@lensa-ai.com for questions and concerns.