#Faceswap Video API

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[localbizlift]

ByteDance & TikTok have secretly built a Deepfakes maker

TikTok parent company ByteDance has teamed up with one of the most controversial apps to let you insert your face into videos starring someone else. TechCrunch has learned that ByteDance has developed an unreleased feature using life-like Deepfakes technology that the app’s code refers to as Face Swap. Code in both TikTok and its Chinese sister app Douyin asks users to take a multi-angle biometric scan of their face, then choose from a selection of videos they want to add their face to and share.

Users scan themselves, pick a video, and have their face overlaid on the body of someone in the clip with ByteDance’s new Face Swap feature

The Face Swap option was built atop the API of Chinese Deepfakes app Zao, which uses artificial intelligence to blend one person’s face into another’s body as they move and synchronize their expressions. Zao went viral in September despite privacy and security concerns about how users’ facial scans might be abused.

The Deepfakes feature, if launched in Douyin and TikTok, could create a more controlled environment where face swapping technology plus a limited selection of source videos  can be used for fun instead of spreading misinformation. It might also raise awareness of the technology so more people are aware that they shouldn’t believe everything they see online. But it’s also likely to heighten fears about what Zao and ByteDance could do with such sensitive biometric data — similar to what’s used to set up FaceID on iPhones. Zao was previously blocked by China’s WeChat for presenting “security risks”.

Several other tech companies have recently tried to consumerize watered-down versions of Deepfakes. The app Morphin lets you overlay a computerized rendering of your face on actors in GIFs. Snapchat offered a FaceSwap option for years that would switch the visages of two people in frame, or replace one on camera with one from your camera roll, and there are standalone apps that do that too like Face Swap Live. Then last month, TechCrunch spotted Snapchat’s new Cameos for inserting a real selfie into video clips it provides, though the results aren’t meant to look confusingly realistic.

But ByteDance’s teamup with Zao could bring convincingly life-like Deepfakes to TikTok and Douyin, two of the world’s most popular apps with over 1.5 billion downloads.

Zao in the Chinese iOS App Store

Hidden Inside TikTok and Douyin

TechCrunch received a tip about the news from Israeli in-app market research startup Watchful.ai. The company had discovered code for the Deepfakes feature in the latest version of TikTok’s and Douyin’s Android apps. Watchful.ai was able to activate the code in Douyin to generate screenshots of the feature, though it’s not currently available to the public.

First, users scan their face into TikTok. This also serves as an identity check to make sure you’re only submitting your own face so you can’t make unconsented Deepfakes of anyone else using an existing photo or a single shot of their face. By asking you to blink, nod, and open and close your mouth while in focus and proper lighting, Douyin can ensure you’re a live human and create a manipulable scan of your face that it can stretch and move to express different emotions or fill different scenes.

You’ll then be able to pick from videos ByteDance claims to have the rights to use, and it will replace the face of whoever’s in the clip with your own. You can then share or download the Deepfake video, though it will include an overlayed watermark the company claims will help distinguish the content as not being real.

Code in th apps reveals that the Face Swap feature relies on the Zao API. There are many references to this API including strings like:

zaoFaceParams /media/api/zao/video/create enter_zaoface_preview_page isZaoVideoType zaoface_clip_edit_page

Watchful also discovered unpublished updates to TikTok and Douyin’s terms of service that cover privacy and usage of the Deepfakes feature. Inside the US version of TikTok’s Android app, English text in the code explains the feature and some of its terms of use:

“Your facial pattern will be used for this feature. Read the Drama Face Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details. Make sure you’ve read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before continuing. 1. To make this feature secure for everyone, real identity verification is required to make sure users themselves are using this feature with their own faces. For this reason, uploaded photos can’t be used; 2. Your facial pattern will only be used to generate face-change videos that are only visible to you before you post it. To better protect your personal information, identity verification is required if you use this feature later. 3. This feature complies with Internet Personal Information Protection Regulations for Minors. Underage users won’t be able to access this feature. 4. All video elements related to this feature provided by Douyin have acquired copyright authorization.”

ZHEJIANG, CHINA – OCTOBER 18 2019 Two us senators have sent a letter to the us national intelligence agency saying TikTok could pose a threat to us national security and should be investigated. Visitors visit the booth of douyin(Tiktok) at the 2019 smart expo in hangzhou, east China’s zhejiang province, Oct. 18, 2019.- PHOTOGRAPH BY Costfoto / Barcroft Media (Photo credit should read Costfoto / Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

A longer terms of use and privacy policy was also found in Chinese within Douyin. Translated into English, some highlights from the text include:

“The ‘face-changing’ effect presented by this function is a fictional image generated by the superimposition of our photos based on your photos. In order to show that the original work has been modified and the video generated using this function is not a real video, we will mark the video generated using this function. Do not erase the mark in any way.”

“The information collected during the aforementioned detection process and using your photos to generate face-changing videos is only used for live detection and matching during face-changing. It will not be used for other purposes . . . And matches are deleted immediately and your facial features are not stored.”

“When you use this function, you can only use the materials provided by us, you cannot upload the materials yourself. The materials we provide have been authorized by the copyright owner”.

“According to the ‘Children’s Internet Personal Information Protection Regulations’ and the relevant provisions of laws and regulations, in order to protect the personal information of children / youths, this function restricts the use of minors”.

We reached out to TikTok and Douyin for comment regarding the Deepfakes feature, when it might launch, how the privacy of biometric scans are protected, the age limit, and the nature of its relationship with Zao. However, TikTok declined to answer those questions. Instead a spokesperson insisted that “after checking with the teams I can confirm this is definitely not a function in TikTok, nor do we have any intention of introducing it. I think what you may be looking at is something slated for Douyin – your email includes screenshots that would be from Douyin, and a privacy policy that mentions Douyin. That said, we don’t work on Douyin here at TikTok.” They later told TechCrunch that “The inactive code fragments are being removed to eliminate any confusion”, which implicitly confirms that Face Swap code was found in TikTok.

A Douyin spokesperson told TechCrunch that “Douyin has no cooperation with Zao” despite references to Zao in the code. They also denied that the Face Swap terms of service appear in TikTok despite TechCrunch reviewing code from the app showing those terms of service and the feature’s functionality.

This is suspicious, and doesn’t explain why code for the Deepfakes feature and special terms of service in English for the feature appear in TikTok, and not just Douyin where the app can already be activated and a longer terms of service was spotted. TikTok’s US entity has previously denied complying with censorship requests from the Chinese government in contradiction to sources who told the Washington Post and that TikTok did censor some political and sexual content at China’s behest.

It’s possible that the Deepfakes Face Swap feature never officially launches in China or the US. But it��s fully functional, even if unreleased, and demonstrates ByteDance’s willingness to embrace the controversial technology despite its reputation for misinformation and non-consensual pornography. At least it’s restricting the use of the feature by minors, only letting you face-swap yourself, and preventing users from uploading their own source videos. That avoid it being used to create dangerous misinformation Deepfakes like the one making House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seem drunk.

“It’s very rare to see a major social networking app restrict a new, advanced feature to their users 18 and over only” Watchful.ai co-founder and CEO Itay Kahana tells TechCrunch. “These deepfake apps might seem like fun on the surface, but they should not be allowed to become trojan horses, compromising IP rights and personal data, especially personal data from minors who are overwhelmingly the heaviest users of TikTok to date.”

TikTok has already been banned by the US Navy and ByteDance’s acquisition and merger of Musically into TikTok is under investigation by the Comittee On Foreign Investment In The United States. Deepfake fears could further heighten scrutiny.

With the proper safeguards, though, face-changing technology could usher in a new era of user generated content where the creator is always at the center of the action. It’s all part of a new trend of personalized media that could be big in 2020. Social media has evolved from selfies to Bitmoji to Animoji to Cameos and now consumerized Deepfakes. When there are infinite apps and videos and notifications to distract us, making us the star could be the best way to hold our attention.

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New Post has been published on https://magzoso.com/tech/bytedance-tiktok-have-secretly-built-a-deepfakes-maker/

ByteDance & TikTok have secretly built a Deepfakes maker

TikTok parent company ByteDance has teamed up with one of the most controversial apps to let you insert your face into videos starring someone else. TechCrunch has learned that ByteDance has developed an unreleased feature using life-like Deepfakes technology that the app’s code refers to as Face Swap. Code in both TikTok and its Chinese sister app Douyin asks users to take a multi-angle biometric scan of their face, then choose from a selection of videos they want to add their face to and share.

Users scan themselves, pick a video, and have their face overlaid on the body of someone in the clip with ByteDance’s new Face Swap feature

The Face Swap option was built atop the API of Chinese Deepfakes app Zao, which uses artificial intelligence to blend one person’s face into another’s body as they move and synchronize their expressions. Zao went viral in September despite privacy and security concerns about how users’ facial scans might be abused.

The Deepfakes feature, if launched in Douyin and TikTok, could create a more controlled environment where face swapping technology plus a limited selection of source videos  can be used for fun instead of spreading misinformation. It might also raise awareness of the technology so more people are aware that they shouldn’t believe everything they see online. But it’s also likely to heighten fears about what Zao and ByteDance could do with such sensitive biometric data — similar to what’s used to set up FaceID on iPhones. Zao was previously blocked by China’s WeChat for presenting “security risks”.

Several other tech companies have recently tried to consumerize watered-down versions of Deepfakes. The app Morphin lets you overlay a computerized rendering of your face on actors in GIFs. Snapchat offered a FaceSwap option for years that would switch the visages of two people in frame, or replace one on camera with one from your camera roll, and there are standalone apps that do that too like Face Swap Live. Then last month, TechCrunch spotted Snapchat’s new Cameos for inserting a real selfie into video clips it provides, though the results aren’t meant to look confusingly realistic.

But ByteDance’s teamup with Zao could bring convincingly life-like Deepfakes to TikTok and Douyin, two of the world’s most popular apps with over 1.5 billion downloads.

Zao in the Chinese iOS App Store

Hidden Inside TikTok and Douyin

TechCrunch received a tip about the news from Israeli in-app market research startup Watchful.ai. The company had discovered code for the Deepfakes feature in the latest version of TikTok’s and Douyin’s Android apps. Watchful.ai was able to activate the code in Douyin to generate screenshots of the feature, though it’s not currently available to the public.

First, users scan their face into TikTok. This also serves as an identity check to make sure you’re only submitting your own face so you can’t make unconsented Deepfakes of anyone else using an existing photo or a single shot of their face. By asking you to blink, nod, and open and close your mouth while in focus and proper lighting, Douyin can ensure you’re a live human and create a manipulable scan of your face that it can stretch and move to express different emotions or fill different scenes.

You’ll then be able to pick from videos ByteDance claims to have the rights to use, and it will replace the face of whoever’s in the clip with your own. You can then share or download the Deepfake video, though it will include an overlayed watermark the company claims will help distinguish the content as not being real.

Code in th apps reveals that the Face Swap feature relies on the Zao API. There are many references to this API including strings like:

zaoFaceParams /media/api/zao/video/create enter_zaoface_preview_page isZaoVideoType zaoface_clip_edit_page

Watchful also discovered unpublished updates to TikTok and Douyin’s terms of service that cover privacy and usage of the Deepfakes feature. Inside the US version of TikTok’s Android app, English text in the code explains the feature and some of its terms of use:

“Your facial pattern will be used for this feature. Read the Drama Face Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details. Make sure you’ve read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before continuing. 1. To make this feature secure for everyone, real identity verification is required to make sure users themselves are using this feature with their own faces. For this reason, uploaded photos can’t be used; 2. Your facial pattern will only be used to generate face-change videos that are only visible to you before you post it. To better protect your personal information, identity verification is required if you use this feature later. 3. This feature complies with Internet Personal Information Protection Regulations for Minors. Underage users won’t be able to access this feature. 4. All video elements related to this feature provided by Douyin have acquired copyright authorization.”

ZHEJIANG, CHINA – OCTOBER 18 2019 Two us senators have sent a letter to the us national intelligence agency saying TikTok could pose a threat to us national security and should be investigated. Visitors visit the booth of douyin(Tiktok) at the 2019 smart expo in hangzhou, east China’s zhejiang province, Oct. 18, 2019.- PHOTOGRAPH BY Costfoto / Barcroft Media (Photo credit should read Costfoto / Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

A longer terms of use and privacy policy was also found in Chinese within Douyin. Translated into English, some highlights from the text include:

“The ‘face-changing’ effect presented by this function is a fictional image generated by the superimposition of our photos based on your photos. In order to show that the original work has been modified and the video generated using this function is not a real video, we will mark the video generated using this function. Do not erase the mark in any way.”

“The information collected during the aforementioned detection process and using your photos to generate face-changing videos is only used for live detection and matching during face-changing. It will not be used for other purposes . . . And matches are deleted immediately and your facial features are not stored.”

“When you use this function, you can only use the materials provided by us, you cannot upload the materials yourself. The materials we provide have been authorized by the copyright owner”.

“According to the ‘Children’s Internet Personal Information Protection Regulations’ and the relevant provisions of laws and regulations, in order to protect the personal information of children / youths, this function restricts the use of minors”.

We reached out to TikTok and Douyin for comment regarding the Deepfakes feature, when it might launch, how the privacy of biometric scans are protected, the age limit, and the nature of its relationship with Zao. However, TikTok declined to answer those questions. Instead a spokesperson insisted that “after checking with the teams I can confirm this is definitely not a function in TikTok, nor do we have any intention of introducing it. I think what you may be looking at is something slated for Douyin – your email includes screenshots that would be from Douyin, and a privacy policy that mentions Douyin. That said, we don’t work on Douyin here at TikTok.” They later told TechCrunch that “The inactive code fragments are being removed to eliminate any confusion”, which implicitly confirms that Face Swap code was found in TikTok.

A Douyin spokesperson told TechCrunch that “Douyin has no cooperation with Zao” despite references to Zao in the code. They also denied that the Face Swap terms of service appear in TikTok despite TechCrunch reviewing code from the app showing those terms of service and the feature’s functionality.

This is suspicious, and doesn’t explain why code for the Deepfakes feature and special terms of service in English for the feature appear in TikTok, and not just Douyin where the app can already be activated and a longer terms of service was spotted. TikTok’s US entity has previously denied complying with censorship requests from the Chinese government in contradiction to sources who told the Washington Post and that TikTok did censor some political and sexual content at China’s behest.

It’s possible that the Deepfakes Face Swap feature never officially launches in China or the US. But it’s fully functional, even if unreleased, and demonstrates ByteDance’s willingness to embrace the controversial technology despite its reputation for misinformation and non-consensual pornography. At least it’s restricting the use of the feature by minors, only letting you face-swap yourself, and preventing users from uploading their own source videos. That avoid it being used to create dangerous misinformation Deepfakes like the one making House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seem drunk.

“It’s very rare to see a major social networking app restrict a new, advanced feature to their users 18 and over only” Watchful.ai co-founder and CEO Itay Kahana tells TechCrunch. “These deepfake apps might seem like fun on the surface, but they should not be allowed to become trojan horses, compromising IP rights and personal data, especially personal data from minors who are overwhelmingly the heaviest users of TikTok to date.”

TikTok has already been banned by the US Navy and ByteDance’s acquisition and merger of Musically into TikTok is under investigation by the Comittee On Foreign Investment In The United States. Deepfake fears could further heighten scrutiny.

With the proper safeguards, though, face-changing technology could usher in a new era of user generated content where the creator is always at the center of the action. It’s all part of a new trend of personalized media that could be big in 2020. Social media has evolved from selfies to Bitmoji to Animoji to Cameos and now consumerized Deepfakes. When there are infinite apps and videos and notifications to distract us, making us the star could be the best way to hold our attention.

[apimarket]

Boost User Engagement with the Faceswap Video API - Key Benefits for Developers

In today's digital landscape, video content is king. From entertainment to educational content, videos play a pivotal role in communication and engagement. One of the exciting innovations in the video industry is Faceswap Video API. Whether you're looking to enhance your app or explore new creative avenues, Faceswap Video API can open up endless possibilities for developers and businesses alike.

What is Faceswap Video API?

A Faceswap Video API allows you to seamlessly swap faces in videos using advanced machine learning algorithms. By analyzing the facial features of individuals in the video, this API enables real-time face swapping with high accuracy and detail. It takes video editing to a whole new level, making it easier to create engaging, personalized content without requiring advanced editing skills. With the rise of social media platforms, content creators, and businesses are constantly looking for fresh ways to engage their audience. A Faceswap Video API offers a unique solution by providing an innovative tool for transforming video content. Whether you're creating deepfake videos, gaming content, or just having fun with family videos, this API opens up opportunities for creativity and personalization.

How Can Faceswap Video API Benefit Your Business?

Enhanced User Experience

Integrating a Faceswap Video API into your application can significantly improve the user experience. It allows users to create dynamic, interactive content that’s sure to captivate their audience. Whether it's for entertainment, education, or marketing purposes, face-swapping in videos is a fun and engaging feature that will set your app apart from the competition.

Boost Engagement

Content that is both unique and personalized tends to perform better. By using a Faceswap Video API, you can enable users to customize their videos, making the content more relatable and shareable. This feature not only enhances engagement but also increases the chances of viral content spreading across social media platforms.

Cost-Effective Solution

Creating high-quality videos traditionally involves expensive software and skilled video editors. With a Faceswap Video API, businesses can automate the process and reduce the need for costly editing teams. This makes it an affordable solution for companies looking to add advanced video editing features without breaking the bank.

Why Choose Faceswap Video API from API Market?

At API Market, we are committed to providing high-quality, easy-to-integrate APIs that can revolutionize your projects. With the Faceswap Video API, you can seamlessly incorporate face-swapping features into your app or website, all while benefiting from our platform’s robust support and simple integration process. API Market is a global marketplace for APIs, offering a wide range of functionalities that cater to developers, startups, and enterprises. Whether you're building a new app or enhancing an existing one, our platform offers the perfect solutions to suit your needs.

Get Started with Faceswap Video API Today

Ready to take your video content to the next level? Visit API Market today and explore how the Faceswap Video API can transform your digital products. The possibilities are endless, and we are here to help you unlock the full potential of your projects. By integrating the Faceswap Video API into your application, you're not just adding a feature - you're opening the door to a world of creativity, engagement, and innovation.

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Bring Your Content to Life with the Powerful Faceswap Video API

If you’ve ever imagined swapping faces in a video without spending hours editing frame by frame, it’s now possible and incredibly simple with our Faceswap Video API. Whether you're building entertainment apps, enhancing user experience in social media, or creating personalized video content, this API is your go-to tool. At API Market, we bring you a smooth, secure, and scalable way to access powerful APIs. The Faceswap Video API is designed for creators and developers who want to turn ordinary videos into something engaging and fun - without dealing with complicated backend processes.

What Exactly Is the Faceswap Video API?

The Faceswap Video API is an advanced AI-powered tool that lets you swap faces in videos quickly and accurately. By simply uploading a source video and a face image, the API does the rest - rendering high-quality, realistic results with minimal latency. It’s ideal for apps that want to offer interactive video features, fan-based content creation, or fun personalizations. Think birthday greetings with celebrity faces or e-learning characters that mimic student profiles - it’s all possible.

Easy Integration, Maximum Results

We understand that time is everything in development. That’s why our Faceswap Video API is built for quick integration. With clean documentation, secure access controls, and responsive performance, you can go from testing to production in no time. All of this is available right from the API Market platform, where you can explore, buy, and manage APIs seamlessly. No middlemen. No delays. Just results.

Use Cases That Make an Impact

Entertainment Apps: Add face-swapping fun to your video editing tools.

Marketing Campaigns: Personalize messages for better engagement.

Gaming and AR/VR: Create avatars or NPCs with real user faces.

Education and Training: Make lessons more relatable and interactive.

Why Choose API Market for Your API Needs?

At API Market, we don’t just provide access - we empower innovation. The Faceswap Video API is just one example of how we simplify cutting-edge technology and make it accessible to everyone. With transparent pricing, a developer-friendly dashboard, and verified performance, we’re helping businesses like yours deliver creative solutions, faster.

Final Thoughts

The future of personalized video content is here. If you want to engage users like never before, the Faceswap Video API is your opportunity to stand out.

Explore it now on API Market and start building experiences that connect, entertain, and impress.

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Harness the Power of Faceswap Video API for Your Next Project

In today’s digital landscape, face-swapping technology is revolutionizing content creation, marketing, and entertainment. Faceswap Video API enables developers to integrate seamless face-swapping capabilities into their applications, allowing for real-time or pre-rendered transformations with incredible accuracy. Whether you're building a social media app, enhancing video editing tools, or creating interactive content, this API simplifies the process of incorporating advanced face-morphing technology.

Key Features of Faceswap Video API 

When selecting an API for face-swapping, it's essential to consider its features. Here’s what you can expect:

High-Quality Face Swaps: Achieve realistic and natural-looking face transformations.

Real-Time Processing: Perfect for live-streaming applications or interactive media.

Seamless Integration: Supports multiple programming languages and frameworks.

AI-Powered Precision: Uses deep learning models to ensure accurate facial mapping.

Customizable Settings: Control the level of blending, expression transfer, and skin tone matching.

Why Choose Faceswap Video API for Your Application?

With the growing demand for AI-driven visual enhancements, developers need an API that’s efficient, reliable, and easy to use. Faceswap Video API provides:

Ease of Integration: No need for extensive AI expertise - simply plug and play.

Scalability: Suitable for small projects or large-scale commercial applications.

Flexible Pricing: Choose from free trials or premium plans based on usage needs.

Robust Security: Ensures data privacy and compliance with ethical AI standards.

How to Get Started with Faceswap Video API on API Market

API Market simplifies the process of discovering and integrating APIs. To start using Faceswap Video API:

Explore the API Market: Visit API Market and search for Faceswap Video API.

Compare Options: Check pricing, ratings, and user reviews.

Sign Up for a Free Trial: Test the API in your project before committing.

Integrate with Your Platform: Follow the documentation to embed the API effortlessly.

Launch and Optimize: Utilize the API’s features to enhance your app’s functionality.

The Future of Face-Swapping Technology

Face-swapping technology is advancing rapidly, powering everything from personalized video experiences to augmented reality applications. By leveraging Faceswap Video API, developers can stay ahead of the curve, offering users an engaging and interactive digital experience.

Get Started with Faceswap Video API Today!

If you’re ready to enhance your application with powerful face-swapping capabilities, visit API Market to find the best solution for your needs. With seamless integration, high-quality results, and flexible pricing, Faceswap Video API is the perfect tool to bring your creative vision to life.

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