Kaspersky warned that the recent trend of generating artificial intelligence (AI) caricatures could lead to exposure of personal information and risks of digital fraud.
On social media, content that rapidly spreads involves entering various details—such as jobs, daily life, and family—along with personal photos to generate AI caricatures or animated images. But experts noted that the information provided in this process could be exploited for identity impersonation or social engineering-based attacks.
According to Kaspersky, details entered by users—such as company names, job titles, residence, hobbies, and family information—can be combined to build a sophisticated digital profile. Attackers could use this information to design tailored phishing or fraud attempts that reflect a victim's specific circumstances.
In particular, the Asia-Pacific region was analyzed as more vulnerable to related threats, as AI usage is high while many users have relatively low technological understanding. In fact, 78% of experts in the region were found to use AI every week.
In addition, some services can store not only images but also entered text, usage records, and device information, raising the possibility that data may be retained longer than users expect.
Adrian Hia, Kaspersky's head of Asia-Pacific, said, "The AI caricature trend may look like a fun activity, but in reality it can be used to design sophisticated scams based on personal information," and added, "The very information users enter can become elements that provide the context needed for an attack."
Kaspersky emphasized the need for caution to reduce these risks, such as minimizing the entry of personally identifiable information, refraining from sharing images that could reveal location or affiliation, and checking privacy policies when using services.