Have you ever seen those amazing CGI images of your friends on social media and wondered how you can make one for yourself? With modern filters and self-portrait apps, you can now transform yourself into a Hollywood-worthy animated character with perfect hair, skin, and facial features.
One of the latest and most popular of these apps is Lensa AI. All you need to do is upload about 10 photos, and the app's AI algorithm will do the rest, generating several fantasy selfies of you. However, while you can download the app for free, the full version requires payment, with pricing tiers ranging from $3.99 to $35.99.
But here's the catch - apps like Lensa AI come at a cost beyond their price tags. When you use them, you're giving up your data privacy rights, which can extend far beyond the app itself.
Under laws like GDPR, app developers are required to disclose what they do with your data. However, when you take a closer look at Lensa AI on the Mac App Store, you'll find a few alarming things. For instance, the app can track your phone activity and even monitor your behavior across other websites and apps owned by different companies.
Moreover, by downloading Lensa AI, you allow the app to collect various data points from your device, some of which are linked to you personally. For example, your name, IP address, or phone number. But even if the data isn't directly linked to you, the app still collects it, including purchases you make on websites, app usage data, device diagnostics, and even identifiers like your city or gender.
And what happens to the images you upload to Lensa AI? While the app's terms claim that the company will only use them for operating and improving Lensa AI, it's a grey area. With no clear definition of what "operating" means, the company could modify, distribute, and create derivative works of your user content without additional compensation to you.
So what can you do to protect your data privacy? First, don't jump on every fad. It's natural to want to be part of the latest craze, but try waiting a week before downloading a new app. You'll likely find that the hype has died down by then.
Second, read the app's terms and conditions before downloading it. You'll often find that you're giving up more data privacy rights than you realize. Finally, if you can't resist an app's charms, make it as secure as possible by restricting its data collection features where possible. Use your phone's privacy and security settings to turn off data sharing and delete your data from the app's servers if necessary.
In conclusion, with the increasing use of apps like Lensa AI, data privacy has become more complicated than ever. To ensure that your privacy is protected, give us a call today to schedule a device privacy checkup. Don't leave it to chance.
