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

Is The Meitu App Safe - The Chinese photo filter app has taken over the U.S. by storm, but security experts in the U.S. say it's a privacy nightmare. This article will share information regarding Is The Meitu App Safe.

by Aishwarya R R

Updated Dec 06, 2022

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Is The Meitu App Safe? What Is The Meitu App?
Source: Twitter

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.

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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.

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"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."

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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.

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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.


Disclaimer: The above information is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on the Site.
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Is The Meitu App Safe - FAQs

1. Does Meitu take your information?

Meitu DOES NOT sell user data in any form.

2. Is Meitu secure?

Acording to Meitu's statement it is safe.

3. What happened Meitu app?

After years of unsatisfactory sales, Meitu effectively shuttered its smartphone line in 2018. Meitu also had a chance to become TikTok before the latter was even born. In 2014, Meitu released Meipai, an editing and sharing platform for videos no longer than 10 seconds.

4. Do apps watch you through your camera?

Apps could be secretly accessing your smartphone's microphone and camera to spy on you, or collect data to serve you targeted ads. To protect yourself, you can download an app that lets you know when the microphone or camera are turned on. You can also invest in some hardware to block out the microphone and camera.

5. Is it safe to give an app access to photos?

Usually, there will be nothing to worry about as apps will purely just use the camera when you request them too. But AVG , a security software company, say a malicious app can secretly turn on your camera and record what's going on around you.

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