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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has forced Snapchat to admit that users' photos are not wiped from their servers after being sent. In a complaint, the FTC argued that the app was "deceiving customers" as there are, in fact, several ways to permanently retain Snaps. After Snapchat was presented with a list of methods - including screenshots, abuse of the 'replay' feature and opening messages in third-party clients - the company agreed to settle the FTC charges rather than take the case to court. The settlement has forced Snapchat to implement a "comprehensive privacy program that will be monitored by an independent privacy pressional for the next 20 years," stated the FTC in a blog post.
This is just one of a series of recent security complaints Snapchat has had to face. The FTC did not fail to mention the security breach that had led to 4.6 million Snapchat user accounts and cell phone numbers being leaked onto the Internet. The commission also underlined certain aspects of the app, such as the 'Find Friends' feature, that overstep any privacy guarantees that Snapchat makes.