Skip to main content

Surprise! Your incriminating selfies on Snapchat weren’t deleted after all

snapchat looking to monetize reportedly in talks with advertisers
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A court settlement involving Snapchat has reinforced the notion that there is no real privacy on the Internet. The popular messaging app, which promised users photos and videos that disappear forever, was forced to settle with the Federal Trade Commission over allegations of misleading consumers and misusing customer data. 

“If a company markets privacy and security as key selling points in pitching its service to consumers, it is critical that it keep those promises,” said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez.  “Any company that makes misrepresentations to consumers about its privacy and security practices risks FTC action.”   

According to the FTC complaint, Snapchat’s claims about its service differed from how the app actually works. The photos and videos that were sent through the app, which are called “snaps,” were described by the service as “ephemeral,” in the sense that it would erase itself automatically and not end up in storage in a remote server. The FTC said this claim was inaccurate because when a photo lapses after a user-designated time period, there are simple ways to save a photo indefinitely.  

“Consumers can, for example, use third-party apps to log into the Snapchat service … Because the service’s deletion feature only functions in the official Snapchat app, recipients can use these widely available third-party apps to view and save snaps indefinitely. Indeed, such third-party apps have been downloaded millions of times. Despite a security researcher warning the company about this possibility, the complaint alleges, Snapchat continued to misrepresent that the sender controls how long a recipient can view a snap,” the FTC said in a press release

Aside from Snapchat’s inaccurate pitch, the service was also found to have stored video snaps outside of its “sandbox” (which made the files accessible to recipients longer than the sender intended) and made deceptive claims relating to its notification process when a recipient takes a screenshot, which can be easily circumvented in phones that pre-date iOS 7.  

The service also raised a different set of privacy concerns. Its Android app was found to have transmitted the geolocation information users. In its privacy policy, the company said it did not access that kind of information. The complaint also accused Snapchat of accessing the address book of its iOS users to collecting contact information without consent. 

In the consent order signed by both the FTC and Snapchat, the messaging app was directed to deliver on its initial promise to its customers.

“IT IS ORDERED that respondent and its officers, agents, representatives, and employees, directly or indirectly, shall not misrepresent in any manner, expressly or by implication, in or affecting commerce, the extent to which respondent or its products or services maintain and protect the privacy, security, or confidentiality of any covered information, including but not limited to: (1) the extent to which a message is deleted after being viewed by the recipient; (2) the extent to which respondent or its products or services are capable of detecting or notifying the sender when a recipient has captured a screenshot of, or otherwise saved, a message; (3) the categories of covered information collected; or (4) the steps taken to protect against misuse or unauthorized disclosure of covered information,” the agreement read. 

We have reached out to Snapchat and we are still waiting for a response. However, the company has posted a blog post on its website to acknowledged its “mistakes.” 

“While we were focused on building, some things didn’t get the attention they could have. One of those was being more precise with how we communicated with the Snapchat community. This morning we entered into a consent decree with the FTC that addresses concerns raised by the commission. Even before today’s consent decree was announced, we had resolved most of those concerns over the past year by improving the wording of our privacy policy, app description, and in-app just-in-time notifications. And we continue to invest heavily in security and countermeasures to prevent abuse,” the company said. 

“We are devoted to promoting user privacy and giving Snapchatters control over how and with whom they communicate. That’s something we’ve always taken seriously, and always will.”

Editors' Recommendations

Christian Brazil Bautista
Christian Brazil Bautista is an experienced journalist who has been writing about technology and music for the past decade…
How to replace lost or broken AirPods, AirPods Pro, or cases
Apple AirPods Pro Second Gen charging case with USB-C and charging case with Lightning.

When it comes to premium wireless earbuds and headphones, the Apple AirPods and AirPods Max are two of the best products money can buy, and we never get tired of talking about them.

And the latest generation of the AirPods Pro boasts improved sound quality and ANC performance, making them an ideal everyday wear. And for those of us who can’t live without a set of over-ear cans, it doesn’t get much better than the AirPods Max.

Read more
The iPhone’s AI future just got a lot more interesting
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max's camera module.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Not too long ago, Apple was rumored to be internally working on something called Apple GPT, a chatbot based on the company’s own AI model with the goal of emulating what OpenAI’s ChatGPT does. In the months that followed, we have seen generative AI products appearing everywhere, from Google Pixels and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 phones to an upstart like the Nothing Phone 2a.

Read more
The best Moto G 5G (2023) cases you can buy
The Moto G 5G laying on a table.

If you’re looking for a protective case for your Moto G 5G (2023), there are many high-quality options available. The right case for you will depend on your individual preferences and requirements. Do you want something that's thin and lightweight? Maybe a bulky case that offers maximum durability? Perhaps something in the middle?

No matter what you're looking for, here are the best cases you can buy right now for the Moto G 5G (2023).

Read more