Blippar has added facial recognition software to its app, allowing users to put a name to a face. The app will now also allow users to point the camera at products and receive advertising or buying information, and recognise famous paintings or images. However, the new facial recognition software has caused some controversy over privacy concerns. Blippar's co-founder Omar Tayeb has defended the app, saying that it is “something people can have fun with”, and that it will know if someone is trying to add you to the current database without your permission. It works in a similar way though to a Russian social media site which was used in order to identify people on a popular social media site in the country.