New AI Cartoon Trend Raises Privacy Concerns: How to Protect Yourself
A new trend is sweeping across social media, utilizing artificial intelligence to convert personal photos into humorous cartoons. However, beneath the surface enjoyment lies a serious threat to privacy and cybersecurity.
Experts warn that these applications do more than merely alter facial features; they analyze images with remarkable precision to extract information such as age, expressions, clothing, and even details about the user's profession and lifestyle, including their social class.
This process employs computer vision models, deep learning, and multimedia frameworks that link images to text and user behavior.
Dr. Mohamed Mohsen Ramadan, head of the artificial intelligence and cybersecurity unit at the Arab Center for Research and Studies, issued a cautionary statement:
"Despite its entertaining nature, this trend conceals genuine technical and security risks. Images are not immediately deleted after processing; they may be temporarily stored or used to train AI models, or shared with third parties under vague policies."
* Identity Theft and Biometric Data Risks
Dr. Ramadan emphasized that the biometric data extracted from these images could be exploited for deepfake creation and identity theft, potentially becoming part of a vast database aimed at improving facial recognition, which may persist even after a user deletes their account or the application.
Linking images to digital accounts heightens the risk of revealing personal identity and online behavior.
General Abou Bakr Abdel Karim, former assistant to the Egyptian Minister of Interior, confirmed:
"Privacy is increasingly at risk, and any digital database is vulnerable to hacking. The issue is not the AI itself, but its unconscious use."
* Additional Risks:
• High-definition images increase the likelihood of data exploitation.
• Images can be reused for fraud, extortion, or forgery.
• Predictive classifications regarding jobs and lifestyles can be inaccurate or biased and occur without user consent.
* Expert Recommendations:
_ Carefully read privacy policies before using any application.
_ Avoid linking applications to your main social media accounts.
_ Do not upload high-definition images, and consider the significant risks before sharing temporary enjoyment.
Ultimately, a quick laugh could cost you more than just your time; it might jeopardize your privacy and biometric data!
