Photo Trends on Social Media Pose Biometric Data Risks
Popular photo-sharing trends on social media harbor extensive data mining and biometric security threats in the background.
Fun photo-sharing trends rapidly spreading across social networks have turned into a comprehensive data mining and biometric data collection process for training artificial intelligence. Experts warn that facial photographs shared voluntarily by users harbor serious security risks in the future.
The Hidden Dimension of Photo Trends
Photo-sharing trends popular on social networks—such as the 80s, baby, action figure, or add yours—may look like innocent entertainment, but they conceal comprehensive data mining and behavioral analysis in the background.
In these trends, which spread rapidly because they produce personalized, nostalgic, and emotional results, artificial intelligence systems analyze users' close-up facial photographs in detail.
Processing of Biometric Data
Applications process sensitive biometric data such as eye placement, the distance between the nose and mouth, and distinctive facial features, bringing serious security risks in the coming years.
While telephone numbers and email addresses can be changed, facial data is unchangeable, placing this information into a much more specific and sensitive category.
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Intelligence
There is an intense need for data to feed artificial intelligence, which has become a strategic tool ranging from defense and intelligence to cybersecurity and military decision-support processes.
While deepfakes and forged images are produced very rapidly, it is stated that the biggest mistake is uploading biometric data explicitly to these applications with the mindset that data is everywhere.
Threatening Security Systems
Since smart locks, mobile devices, and home security mechanisms operate on the basis of biometric verification, the capture of facial and voice data can lead to the bypassing of these systems.
It is stated that in this process, where the data of ordinary citizens as well as prominent figures can be processed, even technologies used in the military industry are fed with this data.
Digital Hygiene and Ways of Protection
Users applying digital hygiene rules and increasing their levels of digital literacy are of great importance in preventing potential victimizations.
It is recommended to read user agreements when downloading applications, disable model training permissions, and restrict gallery and microphone access.