Navigating AI safely: a guide to empowering users’ data privacy
Emphasizing digital security and empowering user privacy in the age of artificial intelligence.
We live in an era defined by rapid growth of technologies, and the exponential development of artificial intelligence has made us more reliant on it, transforming the way we live, work and interact. Artificial intelligence has emerged as a powerful tool, yet it brings with it a shadowy companion that hunts the digital landscape, which is data privacy concerns.
Recent developments in the figeld of AI, like deepfake technology and plagiarism have raised significant alarm bells, highlighting the urgent need for strict safeguards. As our digital footprints expand and AI evolves, users’ data privacy has never been more critical. So how protected are users from identity theft, fraud, data breaches and other notable violations committed by AI?
There is no doubt that the misuse and unauthorized access to our personal information and data presents a deep threat to humanity in general. The lack of control over our data poses a threat to our safety online and offline. Many AI powered websites can acquire unauthorized access to our contact information which leads to unsolicited marketing email spams, the use of private data in fraudulent activities that can end up incriminating users as well as damaging their mental health.
One example among many significant data privacy violations that led to financial theft is the target data breach in 2023 where hackers obtained the card information of over 40 million customers leading to unimaginable financial losses.
In a short series of interviews, we explored users concerns and doubts while using AI online. How confident are AI users in their data privacy? what are the concerns posed by the data safety violations? listen to the interview below, conducted at GEM.
Our guide to safeguarding your data online
Awareness is key to preserving privacy and data security, as AI often requires access to personal information. Being informed empowers users to comprehend data usage and ethical considerations, while navigating the intricacies of legal and regulatory compliance.
To reinforce data security, consider these best practices when using AI platforms: prioritize end-to-end encryption, enable two-factor authentication, and avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive data transfer.
When handling video data, uphold informed consent and permissions. For photos, employ encrypted storage, watermarks, and disable geolocation settings. These combined efforts allow users to harness AI’s potential while safeguarding data and respecting privacy in our increasingly digital world.
Here are a few interesting applications and tools to help you better understand how to protect your data:
- Guard: an AI tool that reads and analyzes privacy policies
- Polisis- a browser extension that provides you with an AI-powered summary of any privacy policy.
- PhotoGuard- a tool that subtly alters the pixels in an image to create a protective shield against malicious AI edits.
- Glaze- a system used to protect human artists and their artworks from AI-powered mimicry.
We have also identified two mobile apps that can help you protect your digital assets stored on your devices:
- Vaulty- a mobile application that helps you protect your pictures and videos and never lose them in case of loss of the device
- Hide it pro- a mobile application that allows you to hide pictures, videos, music, and other applications you don’t want visible on your device. The app appears as an audio manager which creates another security layer.
Well, in today’s AI-driven world, data security is essential. In fact, the rapid growth of AI raises concerns about the protection of personal data, such as deepfakes and data breaches. To ensure security, encryption, two-factor authentication and avoidance of public Wi-Fi networks are crucial. By following these measures, users can harness AI while protecting their privacy in our ever-changing digital world.
How do you protect your digital footprint? Comment below and let’s empower each other with knowledge and insights!
About this article
This article has been written by a group of students at the Grenoble Ecole de Management’s Advanced Masters in Digital Strategy Management. As part of a content creation assignment, students are given the task of writing articles based on their digital interests and disseminating the articles online. Articles are marked but we make minimal changes to the content. Thanks for reading! James Barisic, Programme Director, MS DSM.
