'Yelp for people' app developed in Canada greeted with online outrage

An app that allows users to rate people like they would rate a restaurant is scheduled for a November release, but it already has the internet up in arms.

The internet doesn't agree on much, but when it does...

CBC News Posted: Oct 01, 2015 5:45 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 1, 2015

"You should have the right to know who somebody is before you invite them into your home," says the CEO of Peeple. (Screenshot/forthepeeple.com)

An app that allows usersto rate people like they wouldrate a restaurant is scheduled for a November release, but it already hasthe internet up in arms.

Calgary-developed Peeplewillallowusersto rate other humanson a scale ofone to five stars, much like a Yelp review.

All youneed tocreate a profile for someone is their cellphone number. The subject of the profilecannotdelete thecomments or therating, according to an article in the Washington Post.

Peeple app lets you rate human beings like restaurants

"You're going to rate people in the three categories that you can possibly know somebody professionally, personally or romantically," Peeple CEO and co-founder Julia Cordray told CBC Calgary in September. "So you'd be able to go on and choose your five-star rating, write a comment and you will not be anonymous."

Negative comments will sit unpublished in the person'sinboxfor 48hours, giving them theopportunity to work out any disputes with theperson who posted them,according to Peeple'swebsite.If the dispute can't be resolved in that time, the comment will go live. The person canpubliclydefend themselves by commenting on the negative review.

According to the site, users must "agree" that they are 21 or over.

Cordray believes the appwill help peoplemake better decisions about who they interact with.

"You should have the right to know who somebody is before you invite them into your home, around your children. They become your neighbours, they teach your kids, you go on dates with them," said Corday.

It seems so far that fewpeople on Twitter share her enthusiasm.

Many see potential for online bullying.

Human beings are living breathing people. Hasn't there been enough quantifying and objectifying of human life, #peeple?
—@TheTalena

I have a feeling this has the potential to start wars. Who thought this would be a good idea? #Peeple
—@priscilagoodall

My god. The concept behind #Peeple has got to be the worst thing on the internet
—@soulamami

Peeple: For people who graduated high school but miss the sense of superiority being judgmental and catty provided.
—@Desert_Bell

Model and TVhostChrissy Teigencalled it 'horrible'and 'scary.'

In an age where both truth and gossip on the Internet can literally ruin lives, this #peeple app is horrible AND scary #yelpforhumans???
—@chrissyteigen

This is a real app. It needs not to be. #peeple pic.twitter.com/QpeDnwhujp
—@chrissyteigen

Some are amazed it was proposed in the first place.

Can anyone give me the number for the investors in the #Peeple app? If they couldn't see the backlash coming, they'll invest in ANYTHING!
—@FuriousDShow

There's a glaring naivete among #peeple founders on how the Internet works. Which is shocking, since they're supposed to be crackerjacks.
—@Lib_Librarian

Others think it's hilarious.

I personally don't care about this weird #Peeple app, but I'm a solid 3.5 star person.
—@mbotti

One-eyed, one-horned, flying, purple, people grader. #Peeple
—@PoG_Chris

No one shall dare cross me again, lest they feel the stinging wrath of my passive-aggressive #Peeple review!
—@coolderik

Some think it might be ahoax.

If #Peeple is not an extremely elaborate hoax, the first person I'm 'rating' is the nutcase that created it.
—@SmokersDrinkers

Hm. April 1st. The optimist in me hopes this #Peeple thing is just an elaborate Black Mirror-esque prank. pic.twitter.com/YFSoDb0ZyP
—@joshscherr

And it's got some wondering if it'seven legal.

Peeple works via people sharing mobile number of a third party with a business without consent. Illegal under data protection? @ICOnews
—@jarowdowsky

The creeps at @peepleforpeople will allow people to create a profile *for* you that u cant remove. Surely not legal? pic.twitter.com/N58QdU4aYd
—@derridalicious

Peepleisrespondingto some of the criticism.

Yo #Peeple, telling survivors that they don't know that people are "genuinely good" is gross. https://t.co/0QMdKavBIj pic.twitter.com/6QchKcmB04
—@brosandprose

Butit doesn't seem to be doing much good.

The outrage about #Peeple is amazing and glorious!!.
—@akishjr

Dear #Peeple: We're not scared because we don't understand you and what you're trying to do, we're scared because we DO.
—@mightybattlecat

It's rare that the internet presents a united front against something, but it appears that Peeple app has pulled it off.
—@BigMaki

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