1 hr ago

AI Photo Trends Raise Questions About Uploaded Image Privacy

AI apps can quickly turn your photo into an ’80s-style picture.

But uploading the photo also gives the app a copy of your image and other information.

A photo may contain details about when and where it was taken.

The app may also record information about your device and internet connection.

Different companies keep uploaded data for different amounts of time.

The new picture might disappear from social media, while the original photo stays on a company’s servers.

This does not mean the photo will definitely be leaked or misused.

It means these apps are useful but are not completely private.

Key facts

ChatGPT retention: Chats remain until the user deletes them, but can stay on OpenAI’s servers for up to 30 days and longer if de-identified.
Gemini retention: Chat data is retained for 18 months by default.
Claude retention: Deleted chats are removed from Anthropic’s back end within 30 days.
Model-training retention: If users allow chats to help train the model, de-identified copies may be kept for up to five years.
Photo data: Uploaded images can include metadata such as capture time, device information, and location.
Expert cited: Cybersecurity expert Christina Popper of NYU Abu Dhabi discussed the layers of information AI systems collect.
Recommended steps: Avoid uploading identity documents or overly personal images, disable model training where possible, use temporary chats, and delete old files.

indianexpress.com · 2 hrs ago