Now, the Dubai Police have warned about the threats of AI chatbots, like Chat GPT, to the privacy of individuals. Concerns were highlighted by Major Abdullah Al Sheihi, Acting Director of the Cyber Crime Department, where users provide excess information to AI systems that can result in privacy infringement and unauthorized utilisation of gathered data in future.
The function of using AI chatbots is evolving and people rely on these virtual assistants for things like research and writing emails. But at the same time, Major Al Sheihi stated that they point out that it is alarming that the companies are able to collect and store a huge amount of data belonging to users. “It becomes easy for people to disclose personal information in a way that paints full pictures, which violate their privacy,” he said. As the AI application advances to the next level, voice capabilities have been integrated into the applications; this has enhanced the generational urge into sharing of personal data among the users.
For the moment there are no episodes of misuse and, as a precaution, Dubai Police recommends that the users should be careful about the information they provide to AI applications. Major Al Sheihi also expressed his concern about the effect of this on cognitive skills especially for the young generation in as much as the AI has made work easier by writing instead of them as this may affect their critical thinking.
The Dubai Police Cyber Crime Department receives more than 100 cybercrime reports everyday from simple cases like hacked social accounts, up to fraud-related cases. Major Al Sheihi also summed up the threats of AI – they include deepfake videos and large fraud schemes like ‘Monopoly,’ where $113 mln were stolen, hackers’ mailings, and people’s impersonation.
Dubai Police concluded that it is safe to use AI tools but recommended users to provide AI tools with as little personal information as possible, cross check facts with other sources and keep abreast with developments in cybersecurity since this world is increasingly becoming automated.
