{"id":14419,"date":"2024-02-14T16:57:02","date_gmt":"2024-02-14T16:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1403859"},"modified":"2024-02-14T16:57:02","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T16:57:02","slug":"dont-trust-ai-girlfriends-they-only-want-you-for-your-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=14419","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t trust AI girlfriends \u2014 they only want you for your data"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s Valentine\u2019s Day and digital romances are blossoming. Across the world, lonely hearts are opening up to virtual lovers. But their secrets aren\u2019t as safe as they may seem.<\/p>\n

According to a new analysis by Mozilla, AI girlfriends harvest reams of private and intimate data. This information can then be shared with marketers, advertisers, and data<\/a> brokers. It\u2019s also vulnerable to leaks.<\/p>\n

The research team investigated 11 popular romantic chatbots<\/a>, including Replika, Chai, and Eva. <\/span>Around 100 million people have downloaded these apps on Google Play alone.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

Using AI, the chatbots simulate interactions with virtual girlfriends, soulmates, or friends. To produce these conversations, the systems ingest oodles of personal data. <\/span><\/p>\n

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That information is often extremely sensitive and explicit.<\/p>\n

\u201cAI romantic chatbots are collecting far beyond what we might consider \u2018typical\u2019 data points such as location and interests,\u201d Misha Rykov, a researcher at Mozilla\u2019s *Privacy Not Included project, told TNW.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found that some apps are highlighting their users\u2019 health conditions, flagging when they are receiving medication or gender-affirming care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mozilla described the safeguards as \u201cinadequate.\u201d Ten of the 11 chatbots failed to meet the company\u2019s minimum security standards, such as requiring strong passwords.<\/span><\/p>\n

Replika, for instance, was criticised for recording all the text, photos, and videos posted by users. According to Mozilla, the app \u201cdefinitely\u201d shared and \u201cpossibly\u201d sold behavioural to advertisers. Because accounts can be created with weak passwords, such \u201c11111111,\u201d users are also highly vulnerable to hacking. <\/span><\/p>\n

AI girlfriends are concealing secrets<\/h2>\n

Trackers are widespread on romantic chatbots. On the Romantic AI app, the researchers found at least 24,354 trackers w<\/span>ithin just a minute of use.  <\/span><\/p>\n

These trackers can send data to advertisers without explicit consent from users. Mozilla suspects they could be breaching GDPR.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Screenshots
<\/i><\/a>Screenshots from the EVA AI Chat Bot & Soulmate show the app\u2019s penchant for persoanl information.<\/figcaption>