In addition to ZAO, we also have updates from Eden Farm, Facebook, and Indonesia’s BRI

New viral Chinese face-swapping app raises security concern – Reuters

ZAO, a new viral Chinese app that enables users to swap faces with celebrities or any other person in a video clip, secures millions of downloads over the weekend as it raises security concerns, Reuters wrote.

The app was produced by NYSE-listed live streaming service Momo Inc.

ZAO was uploaded to China’s iOS App Store on Friday and became the most-downloaded free app in China’s iOS App Store as of September 1, according to App Annie.

Its user agreement stated that consumers who upload their images to ZAO agree to surrender the intellectual property rights to their face, and permit ZAO to use their images for marketing purposes.

“We thoroughly understand the anxiety people have toward privacy concerns,” the company said.

“We have received the questions you have sent us. We will correct the areas we have not considered and require some time.”

Momo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Indonesian agritech startup Eden Farm raises US$1.7M seed funding round – Dealstreet Asia

Indonesian agritech startup Eden Farm has raised a US$1.7 million seed funding round led by Global Founders Capital, Dealstreet Asia reported.

The startup has previously raised an investment from Silicon Valley-based accelerator Y Combinator.

Founded in 2017, the West Jakarta-based startup works with local farmers to deliver fresh vegetables produces to restaurants in Indonesia.

Also Read: Chinese apps to let you grow, trade and eat your own sheep

Indonesia’s BRI to acquire a fintech startup – Tempo

Following the appointment of its new managing director Sunarso, Indonesian state-owned bank Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) is considering to expand its fintech offerings, particularly in the micro lending segment, Tempo wrote.

However, the company is still considering how to best provide these services: Through its subsidiary, by acquiring a new company, or by collaborating with a potential partner.

“We aim to go ‘smaller and shorter’ [in terms of the loan we provide]. This is why BRI needs to have its own fintech business unit, in addition to having the capacity and capability of a fintech company,” Sunarso said.

Facebook might also hide its Like counter feature – TechCrunch

Social media giant Facebook might soon start hiding the Like counter feature on its News Feed posts, following the implementation of similar mechanism on Instagram, TechCrunch reported.

The prototype of the feature was first spotted by reverse engineering master Jane Manchun Wong on the platform’s Android app.

Facebook itself has confirmed that it is considering testing removal of Like counts, though the testing is not live yet.

The company also declined to share results from the Instagram Like count hiding tests, its exact motives, and any schedule for starting testing.

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Image Credit: Shahadat Shemul on Unsplash

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