A viral challenge in which users from Barcelona, Girona, and Tarragona request personalized caricatures or illustrations about their professional lives from ChatGPT has generated concern among cybersecurity experts. The dynamic, which has spread in recent days through social networks such as Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok, consists of each participant providing the artificial intelligence with a detailed description of their job, sector, personal perception, and the image they wish to project publicly.
Warnings about personal data exposure
María Aperador, cybersecurity expert, warns about the hidden cost of participating in these types of digital challenges. The specialist emphasizes that users are sharing more personal and professional information than many imagine, motivated by social pressure and the desire not to be left out of the trend.
"I am sure that many people who uploaded the photo had never told anything personal to an AI before, but due to social pressure and not wanting to be left out of the challenge, they did it" - María Aperador, cybersecurity expert
During the process, participants provide a detailed description of who they are, what they do, how they see themselves, and how they want the world to see them. Aperador insists that all of this responds to a game of ego, where social networks constantly influence.
Information Processing and Use
The expert points out that almost no one publishes the first image generated by artificial intelligence. Most make several adjustments until they get the version they consider most attractive. This process involves sharing even more personal and professional details.
Aperador warns that all this information collected by the companies responsible for these platforms is cross-referenced and analyzed by country, age, sex, or origin. The result is a precise X-ray of society, which can be used later for the development of new products, services, or social networks.
"We give them the information for free, packaged in a fun game, and they use it to take our money later with new products, services, or social networks" - María Aperador, cybersecurity expert
Recommendations for users
The expert recommends that residents of Catalonia and any digital user reflect before joining any viral challenge. It is advisable to ask what data is being provided and to whom, in order to maintain control over one's own information.
"The less we engage in the ego game, the more control we will have over our own information" - María Aperador, cybersecurity expert