It wasn't long ago when the mobile app Lyka started trending among local celebrities and avid social media users. With the app's many perks (earn gems on the app which you can later on use to purchase various goods from affiliate establishments—social media personality Ivana Alawi spent her gems on a brand new car), it didn't take long before the app went viral. In case you're curious about it, here's a comprehensive explainer.
Now, however, an Information Communications Technology (ICT) organization is warning against the consequences of using the mobile app. Computer Professionals' Union recently shared a series of tweets about how Lyka works and how it allegedly uses your information.
Actions performed in the app, like uploading your own content and rating other users' posts, can you earn you gems which you can exchange with items being sold by partner stores. The more you use the app, the more gems you earn. "Since engagement becomes the primary way to earn GEMs, this incentivizes people to share more and more information on the platform," shares Computer Professionals' Union in a tweet.
They also further looked into the privacy policy of the app. As explained by Computer Professionals' Union, personal information such as names, addresses, even bank details, are collected by the app. They also pointed out that another section of the policy states that the app may "disclose your Personal Data to other users and our partners and to service providers engaged by us to assist us to provide services to you."
Aside from this, the app also pointed out instances wherein users' cameras were being accessed in the background while the app is in use.
Lastly, the organization mentions that there currently is no known way of deactivating your account if you ever choose to stop using it, so caution is still encouraged if you have the app downloaded on your mobile devices.
You may read Computer Professionals' Union's full Twitter thread about Lyka here:
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