Are you tired of your plain old selfies? Well, with the help of filters and self-portrait apps, you can now transform yourself into a Hollywood-worthy character with perfect hair, skin, and features. One of the latest apps to make a splash in the world of digital self-expression is Lensa AI. While it’s not completely free, the small cost of $2.99 for unlimited access for one week is a small price to pay for the fun of creating your own magical avatars. And while some might worry about data privacy rights, it’s important to remember that these apps are all about harmless fun and making you feel good about yourself!
Why Worry About Data Privacy with Lensa AI & Similar Apps?
Thanks to laws like GDPR, software and app developers need to tell you what they do with your data. Looking at the app at the Mac App Store, a few alarming things jump out.
Data Used to Track You
Once you download the Lensa AI app, it can track your phone activity. The app store states that the app may use purchases and unique identifiers to track you. And this doesn’t mean only tracking you while in Lensa AI. It can track you across websites and apps owned by other companies.
Data Collected
Lensa AI scours your device for a lot of different data points. By downloading it, you permit it to do this. 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 apps like Lensa AI 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.
One section from the Lensa AI Terms that users agree to 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…”
For the sole purpose of “operating” Lensa, could mean 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.
Things You Can Do to Protect Your Data Privacy
Don’t Immediately Jump on Every Fad
This one may be hard when you see all your friends using a new app. It’s natural to want to be a part of that. But try waiting a week. Most likely those avatar images from the latest selfie app won’t be blowing up your feed anymore.
Read App Terms & Conditions
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. Be aware of what’s at risk before you download a new app.
Restrict Data Collection
If you can’t resist an app’s charms, at least make it as secure as possible. This includes taking the time to restrict its data collection features, where possible.
Use your phone’s privacy and security settings to turn off data sharing. 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.
Get a Device Privacy Checkup
The more apps you use, the more complicated data privacy can get. Don’t leave it to chance. We’ll be happy to help. Give us a call today to schedule a device privacy checkup.
Recent Comments