14 DAY TRIAL // Last week, we presented a report claiming that viral photo app Meitu was exporting user data to servers in China. The application had become very popular in the past few weeks, as increasingly more users installed it for editing pictures.
Meitu app has over 10 million downloads in the Play store and offers multiple filters and features for applying various visual effects to selfies and pictures. Users on Twitter recently found that Meitu app requested many permissions from Android smartphones.
Indeed, the application required 23 permissions, including the local IP, exact location and MAC address on the phone. The app contains code for sending the device model, resolution, Android OS version, MAC address and IMEI to remote servers in China.
Meitu denies selling user data to third-party firms
Meitu has issued an official response to the allegations, denying that the app collects more user data than necessary and that it sells the information to a third party, according to a Sina news report.
Meitu said that the only purpose for collecting the data is to optimize app performance, effects and features that it offers to users. Meitu seeks to better understand consumer engagement with in-app advertisements.
"Meitu does not sell user data in any form," the company added, saying that it did hire several third-party firms to track users’ data, as multiple similar services that are provided by app stores are blocked in China, where the company is headquartered.
Using the piece of code written inside the app, advertisers are able to identify which users are engaging with the app and which features appeal to them the most. Meitu also said that the iOS version of its apps abide by Apple’s App Store policies and protects user privacy.
Meitu added that the data it collects is sent to servers using multilayer encryption, IDC and IPS protection, as well as an advanced firewall to protect against cyberattacks.