Exposed: Your Child's Photos May Have Trained the World's Largest AI Models Without Your Consent!

In an era where the digital footprint of individuals is expanding at an unprecedented rate, a startling revelation has emerged that may leave many Australian parents deeply concerned. It has come to light that images of Australian children have been unwittingly used to train some of the world's most sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) models, raising serious questions about privacy and consent in the digital age.

The discovery was made when researchers from Human Rights Watch (HRW) delved into a dataset known as LAION-5B, a colossal online repository of 5.85 billion images. This dataset has been instrumental in training a plethora of AI generators that can produce hyper-realistic images, and it was found to contain personal photos of children from across Australia. These images spanned a range of innocuous activities, from a newborn connected to their mother by an umbilical cord to children at school events.



The implications of this discovery are profound. The AI models that have been trained on these images have effectively 'memorized' the features of the children depicted. This means that, despite the images being removed from the dataset, the AI retains the ability to potentially reproduce elements of those images in future outputs. This could include recreating the faces of the children, a prospect that is as unsettling as it is technologically impressive.


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Some AI models used images of Australian children without their or their family's consent. credit: Shutterstock


The federal government is poised to respond to these concerns with proposed changes to the Privacy Act, which are expected to be unveiled next month. These changes are anticipated to include specific protections for children online, a demographic that is particularly vulnerable in the digital landscape.



The use of the LAION-5B dataset has been widespread, with leading AI models such as Stable Diffusion and Midjourney, which are used by millions globally, having been trained on it. The dataset was compiled by LAION, a German not-for-profit organization, which has since taken steps to remove the images identified by HRW. However, the organization has pointed out that the dataset merely reflects what is already publicly available on the internet, suggesting that the root of the problem lies with the widespread availability of private information online.

The incident has sparked a broader debate about the 'wild west' nature of AI development, with experts like Professor Simon Lucey, Director of the Australian Institute for Machine Learning, advocating for more responsible and ethical approaches to AI training. While AI has the potential to revolutionize fields such as medicine and climate science, the misuse of personal data, particularly that of children, casts a shadow over the industry.

The revelations also underscore the need for modernization of Australia's Privacy Act, which has not kept pace with the rapid evolution of technology. Former Human Rights Commissioner and current Director at the Human Technology Institute, Professor Edward Santow, has emphasized the urgency of updating the law to better protect individuals, especially children, in the digital realm.



As we await the government's response, it is clear that this issue has struck a chord with the public. The use of personal images, especially those of children, without consent is a violation of privacy that cannot be taken lightly. It is a wake-up call for not only the AI industry but also for parents, educators, and policymakers to advocate for stronger safeguards in an increasingly interconnected world.

Key Takeaways
  • Personal images of Australian children were found in the dataset LAION-5B, which is used to train prominent AI models.
  • The images, which have since been removed from the dataset, could potentially allow AI to reproduce elements of the children's likenesses in outputs due to the inability of AI to forget training data.
  • The federal government is expected to announce proposed reforms to the Privacy Act, which may include special protections for children online.
  • Human Rights Watch has uncovered this issue and is advocating for urgent law reform to address the use of children's data in AI training and to protect their privacy.

The conversation around AI ethics is more relevant than ever, and it is crucial that we engage in it actively. As members of the Seniors Discount Club, many of you are grandparents and guardians who cherish the safety and privacy of your loved ones. We invite you to share your thoughts and concerns about this issue. How do you feel about the use of personal images to train AI without consent? What measures do you think should be taken to protect the privacy of our children online? Join the discussion and let us know in the comments below.
 
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I simply don’t understand why a lot of people have to post everything on line. It isn’t confined to younger ones either, a lot of seniors do it as well. I do have a Facebook account but barely look at it.
Same here, I have many unread messages on Facebook but only read when I have time and never share anything personal on Facebook.
 
There are so many reels on f/b where young children show their attitudes etc. I can see many legal problems when the child turns 18 and sues parents for using them for income through likes etc without their consent.
 
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Reactions: PattiB
I have always thought the generation who have had their photos put all over social media might get a back hander in years to come. What about the kids who grow up and say. Ha l never gave you permission to put me all over social media for the world to see from the day l was born. As far as l am concerned there are to many evil people out there looking at theses pics.
I warned my kids about this when they became parents. Of course they thought l was an old stick in the mud. Now they are coming around to my way of thinking. As their kids are growing into teens and the parents are concerned about all the evils that can come with social media.
Go back to the old days when you took photos for yourself and family.
Kind regards to all Vicki
 
I hate that people put up posts when they are away on holidays, especially if somebody else is actually house-sitting. It can make them feel very vulnerable.
 
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