A new trend has swept across Instagram feeds in India, with users sharing striking AI-generated images of themselves in sarees. These posts, often made using apps powered by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models like Google’s Gemini, look stunning at first glance. But behind the creativity and fun, experts are warning about very real risks to personal data and digital identity.
Key Takeaways
- Many AI photo editing apps request wide access to your photo gallery and personal details.
- Uploaded photos may be reused to train other AI models, often without your explicit consent.
- Your face could end up being used in deepfakes, creating fake images or videos.
- Photos stored on app servers remain at risk of leaks or hacks.
The process seems simple. Users upload a few selfies into a third-party app, the AI processes them, and a new portrait of the person wearing a saree is generated. The results often look highly realistic, which is part of the appeal. The real concern, however, lies in the app permissions and what happens to your data once it leaves your device.
Many apps do not just take the single image you choose to edit. They ask for access to your entire photo library, and in some cases, even your contacts or additional personal details. Cybersecurity experts note that this kind of data collection can be extremely valuable. Privacy policies from certain apps often state that photos may be used to “improve services,” a vague phrase that can extend to training other AI systems using your likeness.
Another major risk is the rise of deepfakes. These are digitally altered images or videos that make someone appear to say or do things they never actually did. High-quality selfies are the perfect material for creating convincing deepfakes, which can later be misused for scams, fake news, or even targeted harassment.
Discussions on forums and social media show that many users were unaware of how much data they were giving away. Some only realized after they had already shared their photos. Once data has been uploaded, there is often no way to take it back.
Before jumping into the next viral AI photo trend, it is worth pausing for a moment. Read the privacy policy carefully, check the permissions the app requests, and weigh whether a fun new profile picture is worth the potential risks. What seems like harmless entertainment might come with hidden costs to your privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What are the main risks of using AI photo editor apps?
A. The main risks include the collection of your personal data without your full knowledge, the use of your photos to train AI systems, and the potential for your face to be used in creating malicious deepfakes.
Q. How can my photo be misused?
A. Your photo can be used to create fake social media profiles, used in scams, or altered into compromising or misleading images (deepfakes) to harass or defraud you or others.
Q. How do I check what permissions an app is using?
A. On both Android and iOS phones, you can go to the ‘Settings’ menu, find the ‘Apps’ or ‘App Management’ section, select the specific app, and review its ‘Permissions’ to see what data it can access.
Q. Are all AI photo generator apps dangerous?
A. Not all apps are dangerous, but it is very difficult for a regular user to tell which ones are safe. Apps from large, reputable companies are generally safer, but you should always read the privacy policy and be cautious about the permissions you grant.
