In today's world, where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly prevalent, more and more users are turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini to consult on medical issues. Some individuals even upload medical images such as X-rays, MRIs, and PET scans to the AI assistant Grok on the social platform X for interpretation. However, this practice can pose serious privacy and security risks.
Although medical data is specially protected by federal laws, users who choose to bypass these protective mechanisms may face the following risks:
Data Training Risks
Generative AI models typically use the data they receive for training to improve the accuracy of their outputs. However, there is often a lack of transparency regarding how the uploaded data is used, for what purposes, and with whom it is shared. Moreover, companies can change their data usage policies at any time.
Privacy Breach Threats
Some users have found their private medical records included in AI training datasets, which means that healthcare providers, future employers, and even government agencies may have access to this sensitive information. Even more concerning is that most consumer-facing applications are not bound by the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), leaving user-uploaded data without effective protection.
Lack of Policy Transparency
Taking the X platform as an example, although its owner, Elon Musk, encourages users to upload medical images to Grok to enhance the AI model's interpretive capabilities, the platform's privacy policy indicates that X will share users' personal information with an unspecified number of "related" companies. This lack of transparency in data sharing mechanisms is alarming.
Experts warn users: information on the internet never truly disappears. Before uploading private medical data to an AI platform, it is crucial to think carefully. It is essential to recognize that even with the intention of improving health management, one must cautiously assess potential privacy risks.
While enjoying the conveniences of AI technology, it is equally important to protect the privacy and security of personal medical data. Users are advised to:
Prioritize formal medical channels protected by HIPAA
Carefully read the privacy policies of AI platforms
Avoid uploading sensitive medical images and personal health information
Regularly check for updates on the data usage policies of the platforms they use
