New Profile Pic app: Does Russia collect personal data from Facebook users?

It’s a new internet craze that turns your Facebook profile picture into a painting or a cartoon.

But there have been warnings that the viral New Profile Pic app might be connected to Russia.

Here’s everything we know about the app.

Linerock Investments, the company behind the free app, is recorded in Moscowaccording to offshore leaks database managed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

However, a spokesperson told the Independent the company’s senior management is not based in Russia.

They said: “The address on the Moscow River is the address of the lawyers who registered the company. We never had an office there”.

Currently the best free photography app on Google Playstore, New Profile Pic has over 1 million downloads.

It promises users “profile photos that are always in tune with your mood!” and has a rating of 4.8 from 43,000 reviews.

Along with updating their own selfies, many people online use it on celebrity photos.

But, by downloading the app, users share personal data including their social media photos, social media information, location and details about the device they are using.

Cyber ​​expert Jake Moore said MailOnline“This app is probably a way to capture people’s faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting that amount of data, especially one that is largely unknown and based in another country.

“No matter where they are based, I would always exercise caution when transmitting sensitive data because once it’s gone it’s virtually impossible to regain control of it.”