The website of the app, newprofilepic.com is in Moscow. In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. Mr Moore warned: 'Before people upload photos or other personal data to a brand new website, they must carry out their own due diligence where possible. Facebooks privacy policy is similar. According to Snopes data gathering, the website was actually showing its registration in Florida. By agreeing to download the app, users are willing to share their location, details about the device they are using as well as other photographs on their social media feeds. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. Tens of thousands of people have already uploaded their photographs to the servers of the New Profile Pic app. App creator and founder of Linerock Investment, Victor Sazhain, is from Russia and responded to the rumors: "The war between Russia and Ukraine has been always unthinkable. The archive had a timestamp of 08:07:36 that day. (Was this charge for a subscription? The top management of the company and the managers of the majority of the projects, including myself, are based out of these countries, Polezhaeva said. The apps domain was formerly registered in Moscow because the founder once lived there. Very literally my fatherland is Russia and my motherland is Ukraine.. The app is proving incredibly popular online, offering the chance to turn a photograph of users into attractive, highly-stylised cartoon-style images. We found thats true, except for a key difference TikTok and Instagram both ask for permission to access peoples contact lists to connect users with their friends on the apps. The Standard has reached out to Google Play and Linerock Investments ltd for comment. WebLinerock Investments Ltd. Get a D&B Hoovers Free Trial Overview Company Description: ? But, express permission is required. Heres how it works: Once users downloadand openthe app, itasks whetherthey'd like to try a three-day trial for its pro version, which costs $29.99. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. We are a BVI company with development offices in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Something went wrong, please try again later. The spokesperson said: The address on Moscow River is the address of lawyers who registered the company. Impress your friends on social media and keep them interested in what's coming next! Another popular social media rumor claimed that people had money taken out of their bank accounts shortly after downloading this app. The App offers 'the latest AI technology' and a 'constantly updated collection of amazing styles'. Was the money refunded? Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. Many people and entities have the same or similar names. DON'T MISSKyiv stands tall after Putin bombardment with two-thirds returning[LATEST]Ukraine ambassador blasts Austria protesters removed from Russia rally[REPORT]Exactly how the UK would react if Russia attacks a NATO ally[ANALYSIS]. The app, NewProfilePic is run by the company, Linerock Investments Ltd which is registered in Moscow, Russia. Developers Origins. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.). People are often surprised to learn just how much personal data mobile apps are allowed to access. Read more, The Offshore Leaks data is current through 2010, The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Andersen Business Services, Inc. Frunzenskaya Nab., 40 Moscow, 119270 Russia. Despite the app's popularity, recent claims online question the app's data collection, privacy policies and ties to Russia following a story from the British tabloid Daily Mail with the headline: Russia after YOUR personal data? Moore told VERIFY: People have formed trust over many years with the likes of Facebook and Instagram but when a new app goes viral, it is advised to minimize the amount of data shared where possible and reduce the number of permissions granted. Linerocks headquarters are based in the British Virgin Islands, and they have development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. In sum, the claim that this app is unusually invasive is untrue. Jake Moore, a cybersecurity advisor with European cybersecurity company ESET, told VERIFY via email that people should be mindful of what permissions they give to new applications. More info, Tens of thousands of people have been uploading their photographs to the servers of the New Profile Pic app in exchange for the free avatar. Please contact us if you find an error in the database. Rifles were involved in 297 deaths in the U.S. in 2022 and constipation killed 2,167., Drinking or using tap water treated with chlorine is dangerous because chlorine is a poison., Joe Biden described America as the foothills of the Himalayas with Xi Jinping., Kid Rock tweeted, Some people wouldnt recognize tyranny if it slapped a mask on their face, made them stand 6 feet apart, and forced them to take a vaccine for a virus with a 99.8% survival rate., The train that derailed in Ohio was carrying over 300,000 gallons of a chemical that was banned in 1974.. Moscow declares partial ceasefire All of a sudden when the company is based in Moscow, its oh my God it is Moscow and the company is collecting my data. NewProfilePics data privacy policy isnt particularly unique. How did Russia lose HALF of its 45,000 elite paratroopers in just seven months? Our app is being developed by an international team with development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. WebThey've developers from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, company is located in British virgin island, using Amazon AWS and other American servers. A spokesperson for the app told us that while the screenshots showing charges may be real, they didn't come from the New Profile Pic App as the app, as of this writing, is "absolutely free and it does not contain in-app purchases so it does not require any payment information of the users.". "Impress your friends on social media and keep them interested in what's coming next! But Linerock Investments Ltd, the company behind the app has denied any wrongdoing. Last 30 Days. Hundreds of thousands of users have uploaded their photos to the app, which was first registered in Moscow. View our online Press Pack. The company's data policy states 'we collect certain personal information that you voluntarily provide to us'. Google Play App Store / Linerock Investments ltd, You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. It is the former Moscow address of the founder of the company. The apps owners told Snopes that the company never had an office in Russia, but lawyers at Andersen Business Services who registered it do have an address on Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. A spokesperson for the app told Dailymail that they do not share user information. "Dare to be different, with a profile pic that reflects your current mood or state of mind. They said: We are a BVI company with development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. 'This app is likely a way of capturing peoples faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of and based in another country. But Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET Internet Security told MailOnline that people have to be incredibly careful when uploading photographs or personal data to a brand new website. "The NewProfilePic app lets you change your user image style as often as you want. There are concerns over a new app that is turning new profile pics into works of art. She stressed the company is not affiliated with any particular government or country. Video shows President Joe Biden recalling an alien encounter. Inside the forest palace 'Putin shares with his gymnast lover and their secret children': Luxury estate Vanessa Bryant settles with LA County for $28,850,000 over misuse of photos from helicopter crash that What does the 1st March say for MY star sign? A second Twitter user echoed the sentiment, saying "NewProfilePic app is Russian owned and likely to contain ransomware.". AppGrooves offers you "Best 10 Apps" for over 600 micro categories. Since publication of this article the app has added in-app purchases. The claim that this app was connected to Russia or the Kremlin was based on screenshots that supposedly showed how the website newprofilepic.com had been registered in Moscow. Elle Josten of Cape Coral created numerous pictures of her six-month-old son. Facebook users are being warned over a popular new profile pic trend that is sending your data to Moscow. This includes the users name, email address, social network information, IP address, browser type and the device data from a mobile phone or settings from a computer. Currently, the app is #1 on Apples app store. Ukraine LIVE: Putin humiliated as satellite pics show tanks wiped out, US warns UK of '9/11-style' attack on critical infrastructure by Putin, Russia news: A cyber security expert has warned users over the New Profile Pic app, Satellite images reveal Russia building new bridges towards West, Russia threat: PM has letters of last resort ready to go, Russia news: 'The NewProfilePic app lets you change your user image as often as you want', Russia news: the New Profile Pic app is proving to be extremely popular with users, If it came to it Moscow couldn't stop NATO nukes and Putin knows it, Kyiv stands tall after Putin bombardment with two-thirds returning, Ukraine ambassador blasts Austria protesters removed from Russia rally, Exactly how the UK would react if Russia attacks a NATO ally, Putin has 'written off' key areas as Kremlin 'desperation' grows, Ukrainian troops have lucky escape as missile strikes metres away, Putins fury as Russia does NOT have weapons that can wipe out UK. INTERNET users are being warned about the New Profile Pic app as it may be harvesting their personal info, one expert has claimed. However, a check of Sunbiz found no company named Linerock Investments Ltd operating or doing business in Florida. Again, we cant help remembering the lookalike Bangladesh story. Key Principal: Victor Sazhin See more contacts Industry: Computer software development Others claimed it was based in Russia and connected to the Kremlin. ;)". Snopes reported that the companys I think Facebook has a lot more info than TikTok does. He MUST seize it, starting with the Budget, writes ANDREW NEIL. We need a full body, or torso. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Our app is being developed by an international team with development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. (AP). Linerock Investments LTD is an Android developer, who started in 2010, and thus is one of the Android pioneers. "We may also obtain information from other companies and combine that with the information we collect on the Services.". ', The company behind the app is Linerock Investments Limited, Users have praised its ease of use and quality of the avatars, Some have decided against uploading their own photographs and instead used an image of Roger Moore playing secret agent Simon Templar, On Apple's App Store, the App is number one in the photo and video chart, while more than 25,000 have rated it on the Google Play Store, This user claims 'he should've never have been given access to this app', The app can transform an ordinary photograph into a digital avatar in a matter of seconds, This user praised the rejuvenating quality of the app which was able to remove some wrinkles, One security expert warned: 'This app is likely a way of capturing peoples faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of and based in another country'. He does not live in the Russian Federation at the moment. The real problem is they're not asking about the other 30 apps on their phone that are doing the same thing [] The reality is, if you look at the fine print of this app, it's collecting less data than many other apps. The 2021 infrastructure bill requires all new vehicles to have kill switches that will stop vehicle operation and alert law enforcement when drivers are impaired. Linerock Investments, LTD et al Plaintiff: Rakiem Williams, Tony Brown, Meagan Lehnert and Christina Glenn: Defendant: Linerock Investments, LTD and Vicman LLC: Case Number: 1:2022cv02531: Filed: May 12, 2022: Court: US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: Presiding Judge: Robert M Dow: Nature of Suit: Android, Android. Need more. By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. On both Google's and Apple's app store, the developer's location is listed as being Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. However, a check of Sunbiz found no company named Linerock Investments Ltd operating or doing business in Florida. Here is what we found out. a story from the British tabloid Daily Mail, British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission, Yes, eligible Americans need to apply for a federal program to get discounted internet service, Yes, Uber and Lyft customers can be refunded for canceling a ride if a driver doesn't wear a mask, No, police cannot force you to unlock your cellphone without a search warrant, Kate Polezhaeva, spokesperson for Linerock Investments LTD, Privacy policies for Linerock Investment LTD apps, Picsart, TikTok and Facebook. You can read more about the company's privacy policy on its website. Nothing gets sent to Russia. The UKs Daily Mail posted an article today alleging that NewProfilePic is likely to hoover up your data and send it to Moscow all because the app has been developed by a tech company based in Moscow. The company behind the app denies any wrongdoing. You can unsubscribe at any time. By now the address has been changed in order to avoid any confusion. Sazhin wrote in an Instagram post of his own Russian and Ukrainian heritage, noting that the companys team consists ofpeople from both countries. Dare to be different, with a profile pic that reflects your current mood or state of mind. Heres how you can tell. The outlet reports that the company behind the app is called Linerock Investments Ltd, which according to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Offshore Leaks database, is registered in Moscow. Users on Twitter are also sharing experts' fears of a Russian-based cyberattack or scam, with one person calling the New Profile Pic app a "phishing scam". As people posted photos from this new app, a piece of mobile software that uses artificial intelligence to create profile pics that look as if they had been painted, messages started circulating on social media claiming that this app was some sort of Russian malware scam. The only purpose of this is to speed up any further processings of the same photo., Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET Internet Security told MailOnline: "This app is likely a way of capturing peoples faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of and based in another country.". The ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database is licensed under the Open Database License and contents under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. This is necessary in order to apply all those fancy effects driven by AI technologies. "Youre giving it permission to have access to your cards, any banking information on your phone, contacts, etc. The 700-year-old Coronation chair that has been used for the crowning of King Charles has 'jeopardised' the monarchy by meeting European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Do we get our 87p back? May 11, 2022, Victor Sazhin, Instagram post, Feb. 20, 2022, Kristina Lunina, spokesperson for Linerock Investments Ltd., May 12, 2022. To connect with Linerock Investments, LTD employee register on SignalHire. 'The NewProfilePic app lets you change your user image style as often as you want. TikToks privacy policy also says certain data is collected when registering to use the platform. The Dailymail interviewed a Global Cybersecurity Advisor that said the app can capture your face in high resolution and questions why an app would want this much data, especially in another country. Everything seems to be controlled by Andersen Business Services which is still registered in Russia, Ritter said. Its requested app permissions are similar to other mainstream apps. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. 'Regardless of where they are based, I would always err on the side of caution when handing over sensitive data as once it has gone it is virtually impossible to gain control of it back.'. "He does not live in the Russian Federation now," she wrote in an email to PolitiFact. The spokesperson said the app stores are crowded with similarly named apps, some of which feature subscriptions or in-app purchases. "Currently, the address was changed in order to avoid any confusion.". The spokesperson said: We are a BVI company. Web MEMU App Player. The app developers explain: "Whenever you choose an effect that involves face manipulations we use special face recognition technologies to detect a photo; find required facial key points, and apply the effect to your photo.". The company explained that they use Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure, two servers located in the U.S., and that no user images or data are sent to Moscow: However, theres a flip side to the apps popularity. The Linerock Investments, LTD annual revenue is estimated at < 1M. Its flagship app, Photo Lab, has been downloaded over 200 million times to date, The data comes directly from the leaked files ICIJ has received in connection with various investigations and each dataset encompasses a defined time period specified in the database. Magic Johnson tested positive for HIV "because Faucis gain of function study used a contaminated Hepatitis B vaccine. One of its shareholders is based in Panama City, while a director is also based in Russia. So, are hackers from halfway around the world really stealing your data and your face with this app? Furthermore, you want to keep your device secure with a strong password, biometric features or two-factor authentication. Washington, DC Russia Recent changes: We want Photo Lab to be your little secret tool for great photos, that's why we keep improving it 24/7. It is misleading and some users download several apps to get the effect and in some they may activate the trial via the paywall. There are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Ellie Bamber, Salma Hayek and Olivia Wilde lead the red Do not sell or share my personal information. Some information may have changed over time. "All user photos are hosted and processed on the Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure servers, which are located outside the Russian Federation. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Updated [May 13, 2022]: Added statement from cybersecurity expert. The servers that host users images are based in the U.S., not Russia. Last 365 Days. Polezhaeva confirmed the domains registered address was changed at some point on May 11. Apple will pay customers $700 for a slowed-down iPhone. On the day of the Dec. 6 runoff, armed groups of Black Panthers were reportedly patrolling certain voting locations in Georgia. The Daily Mail reported that this app was developed by a company "overlooking the Moscow River three miles from Red Square," insinuating a connection between this app and the Kremlin. The firms data policy states it collects certain personal information that you voluntary provide to us. The number of employees ranges from 1 to 25. However, some experts believe that the service, which utilizes facial-recognition technology, is sending users' photographs and data to the Kremlin, per the Daily Mail. The app has so far proven to be extremely popular and on Apple's App Store, it has surged to the summit of the photo and video chart while on the Google Play Store, more than 25,000 people have rated it. "The address on Moscow River is the address of lawyers who registered the company. We have never had an office there. Linerock Investments, LTD is a private company. When you download the app, you are agreeing to share your location, your device details and other photos on your social media accounts. 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