The Cartoon Trend on Social Media: Protecting Your Privacy
A new trend has taken social media by storm, utilizing artificial intelligence to convert personal images into humorous cartoons. However, beneath the surface, there are serious concerns regarding privacy and cybersecurity.
Experts indicate that these applications do more than just alter facial features; they analyze images with high precision to extract information about age, facial expressions, clothing, and potentially even the user’s profession, lifestyle, and social status.
The process employs computer vision models, deep learning, and multimodal models that link images with text and user behavior.
Dr. Mohamed Mohsen Ramadan, head of the Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Department at the Arab Center for Research and Studies, issued a warning:
"Despite the humor, this trend carries genuine technical and security risks. The images are not immediately deleted after processing; they may be temporarily stored, used to train AI models, or shared with third parties under opaque policies."
* Risks of Identity Theft and Biometric Data Exposure
Dr. Ramadan noted that the biometric data extracted from these images could be exploited for deepfakes and identity theft, potentially becoming part of a vast database aimed at enhancing facial recognition, which may persist even after a user deletes their account or the application.
The association of images with digital accounts increases the risk of exposing personal identity and online behavior.
General Abu Bakr Abdel Karim, former first assistant to Egypt's Interior Minister, affirmed:
"Privacy is at risk, and any digital database is vulnerable to hacks. The issue lies not in artificial intelligence itself, but in its unconsidered use."
* Additional Risks:
• High-resolution images increase the likelihood of data exploitation.
• Images can be reused for fraud, extortion, or forgery.
• Predictive classifications regarding professions and lifestyles can be inaccurate or biased and occur without user consent.
* Expert Recommendations:
_ Carefully read the privacy policies before using any application.
_ Avoid linking applications to your main social media accounts.
_ Refrain from uploading high-resolution images and weigh the temporary enjoyment against significant risks.
In conclusion, the quick laugh may cost you more than just time—it could jeopardize your privacy and biometric identity!
