Is The Meitu App Safe? What Is The Meitu App?

What Is The Meitu App?

You're not alone if you haven't heard of Meitu before this week. However, in the last few days, the Chinese photo filter app has exploded on social media and risen to the top of the list of top iPhone apps.

The iOS and Android apps are entertaining, allowing you to transform your selfies into anime-style cartoon caricatures. The concept resembles Snapchat's face-distorting lenses, or Facebook's masks launched this year. People enjoy those items as well. Remember the rainbow puking selfies?

Is The Meitu App Safe?

But be cautious: the app, particularly the Android version, seeks excessive permissions, such as access to your phone's GPS and other data. Security experts are concerned about what Meitu intends to do with all the data it collects because they don't need location data to make your face sparkle.

"We tried to reach out to Meitu via their website but couldn't get a message to go through. We also sent them a message on Facebook asking them to clarify the types of data they collect from users and why", Said Vox.

Meitu Released A Statement

On Friday, Meitu issued the following statement regarding its data collection:

"Meitu's sole purpose for collecting the data is to optimise app performance, its effects and features and to better understand our consumer engagement with in-app advertisements. Meitu DOES NOT sell user data in any form...Data collected is sent securely, using multilayer encryption servers equipped with advanced firewall and IDS, IPS protection to block external attacks."

Meitu Website States

Meitu's parent company which goes by the same name, creates a variety of photo apps, has over 450 million monthly active users, and has raised $360 million in venture funding, according to the company's website. So, while it's new to the U.S. market, Meitu has been a big hit in China. According to data company Mobile Action, the app receives 100,000 to 200,000 iOS downloads daily. According to Google, the Android version has between 10 million and 50 million installations.

But it wasn't on the radar until the last few days, and it's unclear why. According to Mobile Action, Meitu had only a few hundred iOS downloads in the United States per day before this week. This has increased to 100,000 per day in the last few days.

Usage has also increased in China, reaching a million iOS downloads on January 14 before falling back to 300,000-400,000 in the last few days. So, while Meitu is having a moment, you should be cautious about participating.