Gibo warns against use of AI photo generator over privacy, security risks

Are you planning to try the viral "yearbook trend" where social media users upload their photos to an artificial intelligence (AI) photo generator that produces an enhanced image of themselves patterned like yearbook photos? If so, the Department of National Defense (DND) wants you to be cautious.
Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. directed all DND and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel to refrain from using AI photo generator applications as he said these could be used by cybercriminals to create fake profiles and use them for various crimes.
"The online trending digital application that uses artificial intelligence, which requires its users to submit at least 10 photos of themselves to generate an enhanced portrait, poses significant privacy and security risks," Teodoro said on Friday, Oct. 20.
"These seemingly harmless and amusing AI-powered application can ve maliciously used to create fake profiles that can lead to identity theft, social engineering, phishing attacks, and other malicious activities," he added.
In fact, Teodoro said there has already been a report of such case where a social media user used an AI photo generator and the images were used by cybercriminals.
As such, Teodoro issued a memorandum which prohibited defense and military personnel from using AI photo generators to avoid falling prey from cybercriminals.
"All DND and AFP personnel are directed to refrain from using AI photo generator applications, and practice vigilance in sharing information online. ensure that your actions are aligned to the Department's values and are in adherence to existing policies," he said in the memorandum dated Wednesday, Oct. 18, but made public on Friday.
The memorandum was issued a day after AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. disclosed that the military will create a Cyber Security Command composed of experts in the Information Technology (IT) to combat cybercrimes amid a series of cyberattacks that hit government agencies.