AI face-image trend poses data security risks
Social media users are transforming photos of their faces using AI applications to create images inspired by animator Hayao Miyazaki's art style, known as the "Ghibli trend." Researchers warn that uploading photos to these AI tools and adding text captions creates data security risks, as the platforms may store biometric data and personal information for unknown purposes.
What happened
Social media users are uploading photos showing their faces to AI applications to transform them into images inspired by animator Hayao Miyazaki's art style, in a trend known as the 'Ghibli akımı' (Ghibli trend).
Prof. Dr. Adile Aşkım Kurt from Anadolu Üniversitesi's Sosyal Medya ve Dijital Güvenlik Eğitim, Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi warned that these AI tools and websites store personal data, and text added to the images could facilitate phishing and social engineering attacks.
Dr. Serap Uğur noted that when users upload photos to AI applications or websites, they share biometric information, and that writing style, punctuation, and emojis can be collected to create user profiles that third-party platforms may store, forge, analyze, or use for other purposes.
Reported impact
If facial images from different angles, voice recordings, and living space data are obtained, digital identity can be forged.
Index analysis
Kurt noted that many AI tools store uploaded photos on their servers, which may constitute a violation of the General Data Protection Regulation in EU countries, while in Turkey it may require explicit consent under the Personal Data Protection Law.
Uğur stated that some platforms may secretly include in their contracts the right to use uploaded photos as 'training data.'
Classification
Sources and evidence
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