Hyderabad: As netizens turn their real photographs into animated Ghibli-style avatars and share them on social media platforms, cybercriminals may take advantage of the latest trend and exploit people, warn the police.
An AI-based image-generating feature, Ghibli art allows users to create animated pictures. While some platforms offer this feature as a paid subscription, several others provide it for free. Using such free platforms may land users in trouble, as the data uploaded to them is not protected and could result in morphing, etc. Although there have been no complaints so far, the police urge users to remain cautious.
“Since such cyber threats lurk on platforms that use unauthorised applications or compromise data, it is always safe to be cautious,” said RG Siva Maruthi, ACP, Cyber Crimes, Hyderabad.
The ACP added that there have been no reports of misuse of the new feature or users being exploited through it.
Police said once a picture is generated using these AI-powered platforms, the AI art generators claim broad rights over uploaded photos, which could be used for commercial purposes and redistribution.
“As a result, one’s facial features and metadata could be stored, shared, or even sold, raising concerns about privacy, deep fakes, and identity theft,” said another police official.
Furthermore, the majority of users agree to the terms of the platforms, which allow them to retain and use images indefinitely, even after deletion. It is always advised to read the privacy policy of the service provider, the official added.