Image messaging app Snapchat has seen an atmospheric rise in popularity since it was released 2 and a half years ago; popularity based almost solely on the fact that the pictures being traded self-destructed after a given amount of time, generally a few seconds.  However, fans are finding out that this advertisement was a bit of an overstatement.  

After some pernicious individuals stole the contact information for 4.6 million Snapchat users and posted it online, questions about the app’s security arose.  After some digging, it was uncovered that the disappearing videos didn’t actually disappear for good, and that images could be easily saved with third party software.  Not only that, but that Snapchat was actively spying on it’s user base, by uploading the contact folders of devices that used the service onto its servers.  

Yesterday, the app developers settled with the FTC, and admitted that they deceived customers.  Snapchat is now subject to inspections from independent privacy auditors for the next 20 years, and instructed to change their user agreements and policies.  This seems like a fairly lenient response, with no real fines.  What do you think, did Snapchat get let off the hook?  Will they mend their erroneous ways?