INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightHousepartyImage caption
Houseparty has become one of the most downloaded apps in several countries
commercial smear campaign.Online rumours alleged that downloading the app led to other services such as Netflix and Spotify being hacked.The
company said there was "no evidence" to back up those claims
Houseparty has become one of the most downloaded apps in several countries including the UK amid restrictions to stop the spread of
According to Apptopia downloads of the app rose from an average of 130,000 a week mid-February to 2m a week in the middle of March.Online
gaming firm Epic Games, which also makes Fortnite, purchased Houseparty from its creator in 2019.Epic Games has not said why it believes
Houseparty were the victim of a smear attack but promised to pay the first person to provide evidence of this
How it all startedOn Monday the company began fighting rumours on social media that the video chat app was the reason other apps were being
hacked.Several people posted on Twitter screenshots they claimed showed they were locked out of applications like Netflix, Spotify and even
bank accounts after they downloaded Houseparty.Houseparty does not access third-party apps like Netflix or Spotify, though it does ask for
access to user's contacts and connections on Facebook and Snapchat.Those tweets were followed up by calls to delete Houseparty, and by
claims that Epic Games was preventing users from removing Houseparty from their phones.The company issued a statement denying those
allegations."We've found no evidence to suggest a link between Houseparty and the compromises of other unrelated accounts," a spokesperson
for Epic Games said."As a general rule, we suggest all users choose strong passwords when creating online accounts on any platform."
Houseparty risksHouseparty, which allows users to have group video chats and play games virtually with friends, is not without its risk,
however.Privacy and parenting experts have warned about "gate crashers" entering conversation on the app.Media playback is unsupported on
your deviceMedia caption'You can still enjoy a little bit of nice music'If a chat is left "unlocked" any user can enter it uninvited - or
"gate crash" - as long as they are connected to someone in the chat.That has led to reports of inappropriate behaviour and even pornographic
images being shown to unwitting users.
