Tamil Nadu police warn against misuse of Ghibli AI art generators
Tamil Nadu police issued a public alert about risks from Ghibli AI art generators, warning that uploading personal photos to these platforms can lead to biometric data collection without consent, deepfakes, and phishing scams. The alert notes that users have limited control over uploaded data and that unofficial Ghibli art websites may host malware.
What happened
The Cyber Crime Wing of Chennai Police issued a public alert on 9 April 2025 cautioning citizens against the misuse of Ghibli AI art generators.
The alert warns that Ghibli AI art generators entice users to upload selfies or personal photographs, which the AI converts into stylised animations mimicking the Ghibli aesthetic. Cyber experts warn that these systems collect, store, and analyse users' biometric data often without explicit consent.
Reported impact
According to the alert, users who upload photos to suspicious links and platforms risk data leaks, data sold to advertising firms, faces repurposed for synthetic media, and faces misused in deepfakes.
The Cyber Crime Wing noted that many websites offering free downloads of Ghibli art are fronts for malicious cyber activities. Users who download content from these sources may infect their devices with viruses, malware, or ransomware, leading to data loss and identity theft. Scammers have also begun exploiting Ghibli visuals to launch phishing attacks using fake contests and giveaway schemes as bait.
Index analysis
The alert highlights that once uploaded, users have limited or no control over deletion of their data, with no guaranteed way to request deletion of submitted photos.
The Cyber Crime Wing emphasised that the AI continues to learn and evolve using the images and facial expressions fed to it, raising concerns about how this data could be used in synthetic media or deepfake content.
Governance controls
The Cyber Crime Wing urged the public to refrain from uploading personal images on unverified platforms, steer clear of suspicious download links, and ensure devices are protected with up-to-date security software.
Authorities advised users about the risks of accessing Ghibli art from unofficial websites and digital platforms. The Cyber Crime Wing continues to monitor the situation and is working on awareness campaigns to educate users about evolving tactics.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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