Lately, one of the most popular trends online is using artificial intelligence to turn personal photographs into breathtaking Studio Ghibli-themed avatars. Fans of the Japanese animation studio can now behold themselves re-envisioned in the dream-like art styles of Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and other masterpieces with mere snaps of their photos. Undoubtedly, this is a wonderfully engaging way for people to interact with the magical worlds Studio Ghibli has forged. As astonishing as the results are with the soft, watercolor textures and whimsical, otherworldly vibes, they seem to put in a lot of effort.
As appealing as the trend seems, cybersecurity experts have reported a concerning dark side. Forget about the fun of seeing yourself as a Ghibli character; there are serious questions and alarms that need to be sounded about the potential privacy and security threats that come with submitting your personal photos to these platforms.
Unlike other sensitive data like passwords, facial data is unique and immutable once compromised, rendering it especially sensitive. The risk here is that biometric information can be processed and stored for purposes beyond what a user may have agreed upon, especially when interacting with self-learning models or computerized systems.
Cybersecurity experts have warned that, without proper knowledge or consent, users are potentially surrendering their facial features, which are often considered the most sensitive biometrics, to automated systems. If this data is wrongfully accessed, it could enable malicious identity fraud and unconsented monitoring of individuals. With the increasing ubiquitous availability of facial recognition technology, these threats only heighten.”The moment your facial data is captured, it is irrevocable,” warns Carla Smith, a cyber security expert. “You cannot change your face like how you can change a password. This could pose serious risks for your personal security if that information is hacked or misused.”
As if this wasn’t enough, some of these AI-driven avatar services don’t fully disclose how they are using your information, or even if they keep it. Some platforms claim that they remove all photos used to create the avatar, while others are known to keep them to enhance their systems, or even sell them to other companies.
While transforming yourself into Ghibli characters might seem fun, it can become problematic if proper care is not taken. These users should pay more attention to the privacy policies and repository of their pictures. They should be on the lookout in the case of vague policies without precise data retention guidelines.
Users should balance safety and fun with continuing trends based on AI. While appearing as a stunning avatar can serve as a fantasy, protecting sensitive data must remain paramount. Remember that no avatar justifies losing privacy or personal security.