What Should You Do if Your Data is Used Without Your Consent?
Infosec Train
InfosecTrain offers complete training and consulting solutions to its customers globally
Ever uploaded a cute family picture on Instagram, shared your resume on LinkedIn, or used an AI tool like Gibbli or DALL·E to create an image?
Now imagine waking up to find your face in a meme you didn’t approve of, or an inappropriate video of you, or your AI-generated artwork being sold somewhere with someone else’s name.
Yeah… it happens more often than you think.
In this AI-driven world, your data isn’t just valuable; it’s vulnerable. From social media platforms to AI-driven apps, your content can be scraped, misused, cloned, or monetized without your knowledge. A Kaspersky study revealed that personal data theft is one of the fastest-growing cybercrimes. But here’s the real shocker: most people never find out until it’s too late.
First, Know the Threats You're Facing
Let’s break down some real risks:
● AI Cloning and Scraping: Tools like Gibbli, Midjourney, and OpenAI models can train on public content. If you upload original images, artwork, or text, it could be reused or remixed without your consent.
● Social Media Oversharing: Facebook, Instagram and even LinkedIn are full of personal information, birthdays, locations, and workplaces. Cybercriminals love this stuff for identity theft and social engineering.
● Deepfakes and Identity Theft: High-resolution images of your face or signature styles can fuel convincing deepfakes. A 2024 report found a 300% spike in AI-generated identity fraud.
● Impersonation Scams: Someone could create a fake profile using your name and photo to trick others, and you might not even know until a friend flags it.
● Data Brokers: Every “free quiz” or shady app you connect to on social media could funnel your data into third-party databases for resale.
What To Do If Your Data Is Misused?
Let’s say it already happened. Someone used your image, your AI artwork, or your personal info without permission. Here’s what you should do step by step:
● Google Image Search / TinEye to reverse search photos
● Aura or Incogni to scan for data broker listings
● Browser monitoring plugins to track where your data might be used
2. Secure Your Accounts Immediately: Whether it happened on Instagram, ChatGPT, or Facebook, lock things down:
● Change all passwords (use a password manager)
● Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) everywhere
● Revoke app permissions you don’t use
● Run a malware scan on your phone/laptop just in case
3. Report the Violation: You have legal rights. Make some noise and document everything.
● Report fake accounts or stolen content to platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, X)
● File a report with CERT-In (India) or your national data protection authority
Or
● File a report via official helplines or phone calls, use cybercrime helpline numbers:
► Phone Number: +91-11-22902657
► Toll Free Phone: +91-1800-11-4949
► Toll Free Fax: +91-1800-11-6969
● Reach out to support teams on AI platforms if content generated using your data has gone viral
4. Request Takedowns and Data Removal: You can get your content taken off the internet. Here’s how:
● Google’s "Remove Outdated Content" tool
● Direct removal requests to webmasters or platforms
● Use services like DeleteMe or Optery to remove data from broker sites
● Consider a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notice for stolen content
5. Stay Proactive and Privacy-Smart: This is the part most people skip, don’t.
● Audit your social media privacy settings
● Avoid oversharing birthdays, kids’ names, or location tags
● Read privacy policies before uploading anything to AI tools
● Monitor your digital footprint regularly
● Use watermarks on your visual content when sharing publicly.
6. Notify People Who Might Be Impacted
● Inform friends or followers if someone’s impersonating you or using your content inappropriately.
● Warn them from engaging with fake profiles or scams in your name.
7. Review Privacy Settings Everywhere
● Check and tighten privacy settings on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, AI tools, and cloud storage platforms.
● Disable public visibility for sensitive information like birthdays, locations, and contacts.
● Be selective with app permissions and third-party integrations.
Conclusion
Your content. Your image. Your identity. These aren’t just pixels; they’re pieces of your life. If someone uses them without asking, you have the right to fight back.
The internet doesn’t forget. But it can be cleaned up, protected, and even turned into a fortress if you take the right steps.
Start now. Take control. And next time you post that picture or run that AI prompt, you’ll know exactly how to protect what’s yours.