Everything we know about the company behind FaceApp, the viral photo app that's come under fire for keeping your data
FaceApp is run by a company called Wireless Labs OOO, according to the app's Terms of Service.
The app was created in 2014, although it didn't launch until 2017.
Goncharov's LinkedIn profile lists him as the CEO of FaceApp starting in 2014. But the app didn't launch until 2017, when it quickly became popular for its filters that can alter the subject of a photo's age or gender.
Before launching FaceApp, Goncharov worked for companies such as Yandex and Microsoft.
The FaceApp CEO has an extensive history of working for major tech firms including Russian internet search company Yandex, where he was the head of the company's mobile platform department from 2011 through 2013.
Before that, he worked for mobile software company SPB Software, which made a popular home screen replacement for Android devices called SPB Shell 3D. Goncharov worked as a technical lead for Microsoft before that.
A couple of other FaceApp employees appear to have similar backgrounds, having come from companies such as Yandex, SPB Software, Russian social media platform VKontakte, according to LinkedIn.
FaceApp reportedly moved to the Skolkovo Innovation Center run by the Russian government in 2018, although the firm said it is not affiliated with the venture in any way.
Forensic News reported on Wednesday that FaceApp had moved its offices to Skolkovo Innovation Center, a tech hub located west of Moscow that's come to be known as Russia's Silicon Valley. But Goncharov said in a statement to Mashable that it is not received any support from Skolkovo.
His full statement reads as follows:
"No, we are not associated or affiliated with Skolkovo Ventures in any way. Skolkovo is a business park with a lot of different companies. We have not received any funding from any funds associated with any governments."
The app has become massively popular despite privacy concerns.
FaceApp is the number one free app in both Apple's iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. It has more than 80 million users all over the world.
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement