'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.'. 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. We depend on the generous support of readers like you to help us expose corruption and hold the powerful to account. Linerocks headquarters are based in the British Virgin Islands, and they have development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. From the privacy policy: For example, we collect your name, email address, user name, social network information and other information you provide when you register, set up an account, contact us by e-mail or use our services.. Picsart is not a Linerock app but is comparable to other photo and video editing apps like NewProfilePic. WebOverview. 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.". Everything seems to be controlled by Andersen The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. Nothing gets sent to Russia. The servers that host users images are based in the U.S., not Russia. In early May, NewProfilePic, an application that uses artificial intelligence technologies to stylize your social media profile picture, shot to the top of the charts on Google Play and the Apple App Store. A shareholder is located in Panama City, while a director is located in Russia. MailOnline approached Apple, Google and Linerock Investments Ltd for a comment. TikToks privacy policy also says certain data is collected when registering to use the platform. To better understand how Linerocks privacy policy compares to other applications, VERIFY analyzed the privacy policies for other popular applications. Here are guides from Apple and Android on how to control privacy settings on your device. The app does not ask for that information. Hands down the best. The BBC will suspend the 159-a-year licence fee for two days so people can watch EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Could Nicola Sturgeon return the Stone of Scone for King Charles's coronation as one of Just 11 MINUTES of brisk walking each day is enough to slash your chances of dying early, study reveals. Snopes says the app, though, was developed by a company in the British Islands and some of their international developers live in Russia. Creators of photo editing apps. The post was flagged as part of Facebooks efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. Moscow declares partial ceasefire While it's unclear if the app and website are even affiliated, Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET Internet Security told MailOnline that users need to be cautious when uploading photographs or personal data to a new website. According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Offshore Leaks database, Linerock is registered in Moscow and has a Russian director. This case was filed in U.S. District Courts, Illinois Northern District Court. 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. 1800 I Street NW This is necessary in order to apply all those fancy effects driven by AI technologies. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. ? This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. On both Google's and Apple's app store, the developer's location is listed as being Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. Express. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. stated on November 19, 2022 a screenshot: stated on February 25, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 22, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 26, 2023 in an Instagram post: stated on February 27, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 15, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 26, 2023 in a video on Facebook: stated on February 25, 2023 in an Instagram post: stated on February 18, 2023 in a Facebook post: All Rights Reserved Poynter Institute 2020, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter, text alerts and our YouTube channel. Hitler didnt kill 6 million Jews and the Holocaust is not what happened.. In a word, no. According to Linerocks privacy policy, the company only collects personal information that is voluntarily provided. Many people and entities have the same or similar names. And the Russian address in domain details was his former Russian address where he hasn't After, The Daily Mail and others reported the app was created in Russia. Polezhaeva told VERIFY all user photos are hosted and processed on Amazon and Microsoft servers, which are based in the U.S. and are outside the Russian Federation. Google Play, NewProfilePic: Profile Picture, accessed May 12, 2022, App Store, NewProfilePic Picture Editor, accessed May 12, 2022, Pho.to, Privacy Policy, accessed May 12, 2022, NewProfilePic home page, accessed May 12, 2022, Google Play, Instagram, accessed May 13, 2022, Google Play, TikTok, accessed May 13, 2022, Snopes, Is New Profile Pic App a Russian Malware Scam? "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 case status is Pending - Other Pending. Tens of thousands of people have already uploaded their photographs to the servers of the New Profile Pic app. We reached out to Linerock Investments for more information, and a spokesperson told us that, previously, the domain was indeed registered in Moscow because the company's founder had lived there. The concern is that the app may contain dangerous Russian malware. According to Polezhaeva, the domain name for www.newprofilepic.com, the website affiliated with the app, was originally registered by an attorney with Andersen Business Services, Inc., which has an office in Moscow. INTERNET users are being warned about the New Profile Pic app as it may be harvesting their personal info, one expert has claimed. Linerocks headquarters are based in the British Virgin Islands, and they have development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. "Currently, the address was changed in order to avoid any confusion.". The company's data policy states: "We collect certain personal information that you voluntarily provide to us. In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. The app, NewProfilePic is run by the company, Linerock Investments Ltd which is registered in Moscow, Russia. Called NewProfilePic (also NewProfilePic Picture Editor), the app has taken the internet by storm and already boasts tens of thousands of users. 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. 'It is true that the domain was registered to the Moscow address. Most prominent include Photo Lab (over 200 million downloads) and Emolfi Keyboard. Need more. This is one example: We have not been able to confirm or disprove that this actually happened. However, a check of Sunbiz found no company named Linerock Investments Ltd operating or doing business in Florida. Facebooks privacy policy is similar. WebLinerock Investments, LTD | 91 followers on LinkedIn. We have never had an office there. The app then asks for permission to access photos and media on the device. They said: We are a BVI company with development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Polezhaeva confirmed the domains registered address was changed at some point on May 11. But according to a rising number of claims, the NewProfilePic app is bad news. "The address on Moscow River is the address of lawyers who registered the company. Here is what we found out. ToonMe and PhotoLab, two of the developer's other apps, have more than 150 million installs on Google Play. WebFor over 10 years, Linerock Investments, LTD has developed cutting edge online photo processing solutions. "This app is likely a way of capturing people's 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 added. They simply remove the app afterwards (which does not stop the subscription) and get charged after the trial is over. A spokesperson for the app told Dailymail that they do not share user information. "He does not live in the Russian Federation now," she wrote in an email to PolitiFact. The Dailymail interviewed a Global Cybersecurity Snopes reported that the companys Reputation management expert reveals why it doesn't just happen to 'This is the most ridiculous thing I've seen!' Me and my work bestie were just playing with this app, Josten pointed out. Furthermore, many details surrounding such claims are unknown. So, are hackers from halfway around the world really stealing your data and your face with this app? Last 60 Days. However, a check of Sunbiz found no company named Linerock Investments Ltd operating or doing business in Florida. He does not live in the Russian Federation at the moment. New Profile Pic was created by a mobile development group called Informe Laboratories, Inc., and copyrighted by Linerock Investments LTD, according to the listings in Google's and Apple's app stores. A spokesperson for the App told MailOnline: "We are a BVI company with development offices in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus," and said they do not share any user information in a way that is not listed in their privacy policy. 'The top management of the company and the managers of the majority of the projects, including myself, are based out of these countries. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists offshore leaks database shows that Linerock Investments Ltd has an address in Moscow and is also According to the app store pages for NewProfilePic, the address associated with the app is a business center located in Tortolas business district. Registered in: Not identified. (AP). 'We understand that due to the current events in Ukraine, any connection to Russia could raise suspicions.'. Rishi Sunak warns MPs they can't trust 'Mr 2nd Referendum' Keir Starmer on Brexit in meeting with backbench DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Rishi Sunak's vaunted Brexit deal could be a landmark achievement, Rishi's deal gives Brexit a second chance. In response to a one-star negative review about privacy concerns on the app the company, insisted users photos are not sent to Moscow. 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. It is true that the domain was registered to the Moscow address. It has told MailOnline it is based in the British Virgin Islands 'with development and customer support offices in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus'. It is misleading and some users download several apps to get the effect and in some they may activate the trial via the paywall. AppGrooves offers you "Best 10 Apps" for over 600 micro categories. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. 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. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com, shared a screenshot of the requested app permissions. WebPhoto Lab boasts one of the vastest collections of stylish and funny photo effects: more than 900 effects to date! Linerock Investments, LTD is a private company. People should certainly be aware that they are granting this amount of access to companies when they download their apps. Case Summary. Again, we cant help remembering the lookalike Bangladesh story. The Daily Mail reported that this app was developed by a It's also important to read a service's privacy policy before downloading as you may be unknowingly agreeing to share personal information. "It is true that the domain was registered to the Moscow address. A blog post on Linerock's website pho.to detailed a longer response to the rumors. In May 2022, a new profile pic app, officially named "NewProfilePic Picture Editor" in the Apple Store and "NewProfilePic: Profile Picture" in the Google Play store, shot to the top of mobile charts with hundreds of thousands of downloads. Linerock Investments LTD is an Android developer, who started in 2010, and thus is one of the Android pioneers. Linerock Investments, LTD is a private company. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. Rishi Sunak looked like he had won the lottery. 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. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, LINEROCK INVESTMENTS may offer to provide the Services, as described more fully on the Site and in Mobile, which are selected by you, solely for your own use, and not for the use or benefit of any third party. The archive had a timestamp of 08:07:36 that day. The app is available on Google Play and the AppleApp Store. 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. A second Twitter user echoed the sentiment, saying "NewProfilePic app is Russian owned and likely to contain ransomware.". The newprofilepic.com domain was originally registered in Russia, but now its registered in Florida. The company behind the app denies any wrongdoing. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The company behind the App is called Linerock Investments Ltd, who according to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Offshore Leaks database, is registered in Moscow. The Standard has reached out to Google Play and Linerock Investments ltd for comment. The Transportation Security Administration spent a couple hundred million dollars on gender-neutral screening technology. I saw a lot of my friends from high school and family posting photos of themselves in this portrait, sort of like painting mode, said Maria Combe. Another rumor accused the app of being malware and taking money out of people's accounts. She and others have seen the pictures filling up their Facebook feeds. one Facebook post warned. I pray Rishi Sunak succeeds so as HENRY DEEDES: Wowee was he pumped! An Instagram post dated Feb. 20 from NewProfilePic founder Victor Sazhin said he was born in Russia. You can download a raw copy of the database here. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Updated [May 13, 2022]: Added statement from cybersecurity expert. "In this ever changing world, why stick to one profile pic on your social media? There are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts. Our iOS team is mostly Russian. Sazhin wrote in an Instagram post of his own Russian and Ukrainian heritage, noting that the companys team consists ofpeople from both countries. Now you know it, update and enjoy. If you connect your Facebook, Apple ID, or other third-party accounts to one of our apps, we use information from those accounts (like your username or profile picture). Nevertheless, your photos (or any other data) are NOT sent to Moscow. VERIFY reached out to the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission but did not hear back at the time of publication. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Internet users are being warned about the New Profile Pic app as it may be stealing their personal info, one expert has claimed, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Always cite the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists when using this data. This material may not be reproduced without permission. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Linerock Investments Ltd, the company that owns the photo editing app, was first registered in Moscow, according to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. There are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts. Case Details Parties Documents Dockets. In sum, the claim that this app is unusually invasive is untrue. "Impress your friends on social media and keep them interested in what's coming next! Or is this just a bunch of hype? The firm also collects the IP address, browser type and settings from a computer or the device data from a mobile phone handset. The domain registrant is not Linerock Investments Ltd, but its founder. (WTRF) UPDATE: Snopes has provided an update regarding the NewProfilePic app. The permissions listed in the above-displayed image aren't out of the ordinary, in terms of what many popular mobile apps do. The app uses artificial intelligence (AI) to turn your profile picture into artwork, but it is raising concern among cybersecurity experts over its Russian links. It has been downloaded more than a million times and has almost 50,000 reviews on the Google Play Store. But Linerock Investments Ltd, the company behind the app has denied any wrongdoing. The According to Snopes data gathering, the website was actually showing its registration in Florida. A persons contact list could be accessed and the app could collect visual information through the images that you upload, including your profile photos. Explaining how the technology works, the App developers said: '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. While there is no evidence of anything malicious, Ritter offered advice for anyone downloading the app. The Linerock Investments, LTD annual revenue is estimated at < 1M. This app is safe for people to use it.". It's possible, the spokesperson suggested, that users may have accidentally used one of these look-a-like apps, and that that service might have charged them. Several VERIFY viewers reached out to ask if the app is safe to use and what connections it has to Russia. But the Mail says the company behind the app, Linerock Investments, is based next to Russia's Ministry of Defence, three miles outside Red Square. "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.". 801 3rd St. S James Ritter is a cyber security expert and CEO of Pulse Tech and showed online documents that reveal the owner of the app was registered in Moscow, Russia. We suggest you confirm the identities of any individuals or entities included in the database based on addresses or other identifiable information. "The NewProfilePic app lets you change your user image style as often as you want. When you download the app, you are agreeing to share your location, your device details and other photos on your social media accounts. Developers Origins. Photo of electric charging station powered by diesel generator is emblematic of the electric vehicle movement. This is necessary to apply all those fancy effects driven by AI technologies., App developers, describing how the technology works, said: 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., They added: The detected key points may be kept along with the photo on our servers for up to two weeks from the last interaction with the photo. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. These are the five different single 'types' on the dating scene - and why knowing your personality is the Theatre issues trigger warning for production which 'involves the handling of a cooked egg'. Internet users have been warned against using a free new photo avatar creator, The website for for the company is registered in Moscow, Russia, according to the who.is database, The firm offers high quality digital avatars if people are willing to upload a photograph to their computer servers, The developers use special recognition technology to pinpoint required facial key points to apply the effect to the photograph. This app was developed by a company in the British Virgin Islands that uses a team of international developers, some of whom live in Russia. 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.. When we looked up this domain on May 11, our results showed that this website was registered in Florida. When deciding to download the app, users must be prepared to share their location, details about the computer or mobile device they are using, as well as other pictures on their social media accounts. When we clicked on the apps privacy policy for both Google and Apple, we were directed to Linerock Investments website. On 05/12/2022 Williams filed a Personal Injury - Other Personal Injury lawsuit against Linerock Investments, LTD. Photo shows what railways in Ohio look like while we send $40 billion to Ukraine.. 1. 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The company's data policy is clear that 'we collect certain personal information that you voluntarily provide to us'. But, express permission is required. "GUYS! 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. The number of employees ranges from 1 to 25. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Medic bags distributed to West Virginias EMS workforce, Millions of dollars and hundreds of orange barrels, Best Virginias Flowers to play at Wheelings first, Ohio Valley man part of rare disease clinical trial, Mayor Elliott says business will be booming when, No umps when Orioles and Pirates play unneeded bottom, Wheeling Central Headed To The State Tournament, Aiden Davis Sets Records As Park Advances. And some of them have in-app purchases. Learn More . Last 180 Days. The App offers 'the latest AI technology' and a 'constantly updated collection of amazing styles'. It said it was only registered in Moscow because that was the former home of the founder of the company, who has now moved. When we compared the contents of this screenshot to that of other top apps, such as TikTok, WhatsApp, and Instagram, we found that requesting users' permission to "receive data from internet" and "have full network access" isn't unusual. Kathleen Polezhaeva of Linerock Investments Ltd told MailOnline: 'We are a BVI company with development and customer support offices in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. EXCLUSIVE 'I hope he has a hard time in a men's prison': Estranged wife of trans double rapist Isla Bryson Front row fabulous! Key Principal: Victor Sazhin See more contacts Industry: Computer software development There are concerns over a new app that is turning new profile pics into works of art. It has a shareholder based in Panama City, while a director is based in Russia. He said: 'This app is likely a way of capturing people's faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of.'. 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