Who Was Saving Your Snapchat Photos?

Snapchat still doesn't like to apologize.

The messaging service, which recently added text and video features, has reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission after being charged with endangering user privacy, but Snapchat neither admitted nor denied the accusations, The Associated Press reported.

The popular app works when users send each other "snaps," photos with overlaid text that are supposed to disappear forever within 10 seconds. According to the FTC, Snapchat deceived consumers by not telling them how other people could save the images without their knowing.

Following in the dubious footsteps of Google, Facebook and Myspace, Snapchat is required to implement a privacy program that will involve an outside privacy expert to keep an eye on the company for the next two decades, the AP reported.

While the settlement doesn't currently have a financial part, Snapchat should be careful: Violations of the agreement will cost the startup $16,000 a pop.

Snapchat essentially deceived users by telling them the app would notify them if someone took a screenshot of a snap. According to the FTC, users who received pictures on Apple devices running on certain platforms were able to save photos freely without the sender's knowledge.

Videos also remained after they were supposed to disappear, sticking around in a phone's file directory and becoming accessible when the device was hooked up to a computer.

Besides tricky photos and unencrypted videos, Snapchat also violated user privacy with the "Find Friends" option, the FTC charged.
Snapchat has yet to turn a profit but reportedly said no to a $3 billion offer from Facebook last year. The company responded to the FTC settlement with a blog post noting that communication with users could have been more precise.

"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," said the post. "And we continue to invest heavily in security and countermeasures to prevent abuse.

"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."