May 11, 2025, 8:37 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Ever wanted to be an anime character, a Barbie, or a hero in a sales package? With AI generators, a single photo is enough—but behind the fun lurk serious dangers. TECHBOOK explains why this seemingly harmless play can lead to misuse and legal consequences.
AI-based image generators promise creative avatars at the push of a button. However, uploading your photo might put sensitive data at risk. Misuse and legal issues could be the result.
Overview
What Happens to Photos Uploaded to AI Image Generators
Many AI image generators not only store the photo but also potentially sensitive additional data like IP addresses or email contacts. “You reveal more than you think and lose control,” warns the organization Mimikama, which educates about online fraud. Katharina Grasl from the Consumer Center of Bavaria also emphasizes: “In addition to your own image, data such as name, place of residence, and hobbies can be affected, depending on the input by users.”
The AI analyzes more than just the face. It also detects age, mood, or posture. Mimikama warns that such images could appear in criminal contexts like deepfakes or even pornographic content—with particularly severe consequences when it involves children.
Additionally, there is a risk that your image might suddenly appear unexpectedly—such as in response during an AI dialogue. The data could also be used for phishing or identity theft, according to consumer protection advocates.
Self-Presentation vs. Risk
A strong incentive for using AI image generators is digital self-presentation. Users want to show themselves as they wish to be seen. Media researcher Claudia Riesmeyer from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich explains: “You can experiment with your own identity and present yourself as you would like to be.”
Young people, in particular, are drawn to the possibility of playing with their appearance. “For example, if someone wants to see how they look with blue hair, they can try it on their avatar—without having to go to the hairdresser,” says Riesmeyer.
The AI itself learns from the collected images—for example, for facial recognition systems. Data protection advocates fear that photos could be fed into such systems. “Camera systems that can single out individuals from large crowds based on biometric data could have significant consequences,” recently warned Thomas Fuchs, Hamburg’s data protection officer.
In the European Union, the use of biometric facial recognition systems in public spaces is now banned—but not all AI tools originate from the EU.
Deletion Often Difficult or Impossible
Once a photo is uploaded to one of the many AI image generators, it’s easy to lose control of it. Even if you request deletion, the image may already be processed and duplicated—especially with providers outside the EU.
Although the General Data Protection Regulation in Europe guarantees the right to information and deletion, if providers secure extensive usage rights, removal from the internet becomes practically impossible, as explained by the state data protection officer in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Caution is also advised when using photos of friends or acquaintances. Without their explicit consent, this is a clear violation of the right to one’s own image. Additionally, legal trouble may arise when using trademark-protected content. For instance, presenting oneself as a “Star Wars” character on social media may infringe on Disney’s rights. “‘It’s just for fun’ has never protected anyone from a cease-and-desist order,” warns Mimikama.
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How to Protect Yourself
The most important protection begins before uploading. The Consumer Center of Bavaria advises caution: “Is using the tool really worth disclosing the data? Is it really necessary to provide all the requested data?”
Children should be informed about the risks and accompanied when using the tools. In case of misuse of your photo, secure evidence, such as screenshots, contact the provider, and if necessary, take legal action—including going to the police.