FaceApp ethnicity filters prompts accusations of racism, stereotyping

Filters enabling FaceApp users to resemble 'black,' 'Asian', 'Caucasian,' or 'Indian' people prompted accusations of racism and stereotyping.

Following a row about FaceApp's "hot" filter, the app introduced filters that enabled its users to become  'black,' 'Asian', 'Caucasian,' or 'Indian'. 

However, users and commentators noted that filters appeared to reducing complex ethnic identities to simplistic and inaccurate representations that perpetuated harmful stereotypes and caricatures, leading to an outcry. 

Some people accused the app of encouraging people to "try on" different ethnicities as a form of cultural appropriation, and of prioritising novelty and entertainment value over cultural sensitivity and respect.

The controversy led to widespread criticism and calls for the filters to be removed. 

FaceApp apologised and removed the ethnicity filters, acknowledging that they were "not respectful" and "not acceptable".