WeChat Blocks Viral Face-Swapping App Zao

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By Mo Yelin and Qian Tong / Sep 02, 2019 03:14 PM / Business & Tech

Photo: IC Photo

Ubiquitous do-it-all platform WeChat has blocked access to a viral new face-swapping app over privacy concerns.

The app, Zao, was released Friday and became an immediate hit. Users can insert themselves into their favorite movie or TV show after uploading a selfie.

But as of Sunday, video links to the app were no longer accessible on WeChat.

Besides the obvious concerns that arise from unknowing viewers seeing people in videos who weren’t actually in them, the app’s initial user agreement required signing over the rights to use any image or video created on the platform for free globally.

The app, which uses so-called deepfake technology to synthesize moving images, was developed by Chinese dating-app maker Momo.

Read the full story at Caixin Global later today.

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