Snapchat’s AI Selfies Put Your Face in Personalized Ads — Here’s How to Prevent It

Snapchat introduces AI-generated selfie ads with privacy concerns: Snapchat’s new My Selfie feature allows users to create AI-generated images of themselves, but it comes with a controversial setting that enables the company to use these selfies in personalized ads.

Key features and implications: The My Selfie feature on Snapchat enables users to generate AI-powered images of themselves based on photos shared with the platform.

• Users are prompted to agree to terms that allow Snapchat to use their likeness in “personalized sponsored content and ads” visible only to the user.
• The feature includes AI-generated images with branding or advertising content from Snap or its business partners.
• Users do not receive compensation for the use of their likeness in these personalized ads.

Privacy settings and user control: While users can opt out of having their AI-generated selfies used in ads, the default setting allows this usage.

• To disable the feature, users must navigate to their profile settings, select “My Selfie,” and toggle off the “See My Selfie in Ads” option.
• The setting is reportedly enabled by default once users agree to Snap’s terms, as confirmed by both 404 Media and The Verge.

Data sharing and advertiser access: Snapchat maintains that user data remains protected and is not shared with third-party advertisers.

• According to Snapchat spokesperson Maggie Cherneff, advertisers do not have access to users’ generative AI data, including My Selfies.
• The company also states that advertisers cannot access private user data, such as Memories, that could enable the creation of AI-generated images of individual users.
• Cherneff clarified that Snap currently does not use My Selfies in advertising, despite the terms allowing for such use.

User awareness and transparency: The introduction of this feature raises questions about user awareness and consent regarding the use of their likeness in advertising.

• The terms of use for My Selfie are presented to users upon first use of the feature, but the implications may not be immediately clear to all users.
• The default opt-in nature of the ad usage setting may lead to users unknowingly agreeing to have their AI-generated selfies used in personalized ads.

Broader context of AI and privacy: This development is part of a larger trend of AI integration in social media platforms and the associated privacy concerns.

• As AI technology becomes more prevalent in social media features, users are increasingly faced with complex decisions about their data and likeness usage.
• The incident highlights the importance of clear communication and easily accessible privacy controls for AI-powered features on social platforms.

Looking ahead: Balancing innovation and user privacy: Snapchat’s My Selfie feature represents the ongoing challenge tech companies face in balancing innovative AI-powered features with user privacy concerns.

• As AI technology continues to advance, social media platforms will likely introduce more features that utilize user data and likenesses in novel ways.
• This situation underscores the need for users to remain vigilant about privacy settings and for companies to prioritize transparent communication about data usage.
• The development may prompt discussions about the ethical implications of using AI-generated likenesses in advertising, even when shown only to the user themselves.