Vocabulary:
- spark /spahrk/
- dispute /dih-SPYOOT/
- ownership /OH-ner-ship/
- restriction /ri-STRIK-shuhn/
- memorandum /mem-uh-RAN-duhm/
[verb] to cause the start of something, especially an argument
His false accusation sparked a heated argument between the two.
[noun] an argument or disagreement
I advised my friend not to let a petty dispute ruin a great relationship.
[noun] the right or state of being an owner
Many have claimed ownership of the bookstore several times in five years.
[noun] an official limit on something
The employees consider the new regulation as a restriction on their freedom of speech.
[noun] a written report prepared especially for a person or group of people that contains information about a particular matter
Our manager released a memorandum regarding new company policies.
WeChat prohibits access to Zao, a popular face-swapping app in China, which made controversies regarding its privacy issue. Zao came out as the leading iOS app in China after it was launched on August 30 this year. However, the app’s privacy policy sparked a dispute when the app claims ownership of any content created on it. WeChat users can still upload videos created from Zao, but an error message about its restriction will be shown if people try to download the app.
Zao is an app that generates videos and replaces celebrities’ faces in famous TV shows or movies with the user’s selfie. It is currently available in China only, and its fame spread throughout the country after users began sharing their videos on various social media sites. The developers of Zao issued a memorandum on September 1, which states, “We completely understand everybody’s concerns about the privacy issue. We are aware of the issue and we are thinking about how to fix the problems, we need a little time.” The app’s terms and conditions now claim that its servers will remove all deleted content.
Zao is an app that generates videos and replaces celebrities’ faces in famous TV shows or movies with the user’s selfie. It is currently available in China only, and its fame spread throughout the country after users began sharing their videos on various social media sites. The developers of Zao issued a memorandum on September 1, which states, “We completely understand everybody’s concerns about the privacy issue. We are aware of the issue and we are thinking about how to fix the problems, we need a little time.” The app’s terms and conditions now claim that its servers will remove all deleted content.
True or False:
- Zao is an app that is available only in China.
- WeChat users can download Zao if they want to.
- Zao became the leading Android app after its release on August 30.
- The developers of Zao released an official statement on September 1.
- Users can replace the faces of famous celebrities with their selfies by using Zao.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think WeChat will lift the restriction on Zao once the app’s privacy policy has been fixed? Please explain your answer.
- In your opinion, is removing the deleted content from Zao’s servers enough to make the app’s privacy secure? Why or why not?
- Do you think all face-swapping apps are not safe? Please explain your answer.
- What apps are well-known in Japan? Kindly enumerate.
- What can you suggest in order to keep the privacy safe from any app issues?
Express Your Opinion:
- People should not always trust the privacy policy of an app.
- Face-swapping apps should be banned from all app stores.
- “Privacy is one of the biggest problems in this new electronic age.” — Andy Grove