The Ghibli-Style Photo Trend is Fun—But Is It Safe? Experts Weigh In on Photo Privacy Risks

The seemingly harmless act of sharing personal images online could expose users to privacy breaches, deepfake manipulation, and even long-term surveillance by AI companies. The far-reaching consequences of it range from harmful to dangerous.

Read: The ChatGPT-Ghibli Trend: Fun Experiment or Threat to Human Creativity?

How risky exactly is this trend? Are you unknowingly handing over your privacy online? HerZindagi spoke to experts to find out.

Is Uploading Photos For The Ghibli Trend Safe?

The short answer, according to experts, is no.

Artificial Intelligence already had a lot of our data, but they didn’t have personal photos, highlighted cyber investigator Kamakshi Sharma.

“Personal photos with partners, friends or family may be used to train their data models. These are voluntarily, freely uploaded pictures, and can be used in ways we don’t know yet,” she said.

Privacy expert Luiza Jarovsky, in a detailed post on X, explained that while AI companies must follow strict data protection laws when scraping images from the internet, user-uploaded images are treated differently. If a person voluntarily uploads their photo, they are giving consent for it to be processed, which means companies like OpenAI have far more freedom to use them.

🚨 Most people haven't realized that the Ghibli Effect is not only an AI copyright controversy but also OpenAI's PR trick to get access to thousands of new personal images; here's how:

To get their own Ghibli (or Sesame Street) version, thousands of people are now voluntarily… pic.twitter.com/zBktscNOSh

— Luiza Jarovsky (@LuizaJarovsky) March 29, 2025

“Apps like these often use photos for model training, improving features, or even for targeted ads. Among the many risks, without strong encryption, data can be accessed by unauthorized personnel,” said Shubham Singh, a cyber security expert. “Use such apps only if you trust their data-handling policies and if there’s clear information about data security.”

How To Be Safe When Using AI-Powered Photo Apps

According to Kamakshi Sharma, one of the first steps users should take before uploading personal images to any app is verifying its legitimacy.

“Check if the app is available on official stores like Google Play or the App Store—avoid downloading apps via APK links shared on Telegram or other platforms,” she says.

Reading privacy policies carefully is also crucial—some apps require full access to your gallery, while others let you limit access. “Only grant necessary permissions. Disable camera or storage access if not needed,” said Shubham Singh. “Using secure networks is also important – avoid uploading photos over public Wi-Fi.”

Adding a watermark or turning off auto-sync is also a good practice. “Add a watermark to sensitive images to discourage misuse. Turn off auto-sync features that might upload images on cloud storage without your knowledge,” he added.

Kamakshi also warns against uploading sensitive information, even inadvertently, like office ID cards in selfies or pictures that reveal one’s address. “Never upload sensitive documents, ID cards, or compromising photos—once an image is online, even if you delete it, traces continue to be there,” she said.

The Dangers of Leaked or Misused Photos

Amid the cuteness of Ghibli’s trademark big curious eyes or colourful backgrounds, it’s easy to forget the far-reaching dangers of photo leaks or misuse that’s possible.

Shubham and Kamakshi highlight the main dangers that plague the aftermath of photo leaks or misuse:
Deepfake Technology: The more detailed and high-resolution your image, the easier it is for AI to generate convincing deepfakes. These can be misused for misinformation, fraud, or even explicit content.

Identity Theft and Fake Profiles: Scammers can use uploaded images to create fake social media or dating profiles, leading to impersonation and fraud. Phishing attempts are a crucial component of this.

Blackmail and Targeted Scams: Leaked or misused images can be used to manipulate or extort individuals.

Data Sales to Third Parties: AI apps might collect metadata along with your images, which could be sold to advertisers, data brokers, or even more malicious actors.

Additionally, in case you find your photos leaked or used fraudulently without permission, there are steps to get it removed. Perform a reverse image search to identify where they might have been uploaded on other social media profiles or websites.

If you find it's leaked online, then use the TAKE IT DOWN Tool to remove the image from web portals or social media accounts. Links to help:

https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/

https://stopncii.org/

Special Concern: Uploading Children’s Photos

One of the biggest red flags in the AI photo trend is the uploading of children's images. Many parents enjoy seeing their kids transform into Ghibli characters, but cybersecurity experts strongly advise against it.

Read: Studio Ghibli: Everything About ChatGPT’s New Japanese Animation Style Image Feature

"If their behavioral patterns, interests, and facial recognition data are tracked from childhood, it gives companies—and even bad actors—a wealth of data to exploit,” said Kamakshi.

In case minors are uploading content on their own, parent should be aware of their online behaviour. “Kids today derive validation from social media, the number of likes and comments on their photos and reels, so parents should monitor their online engagement,” she said.

Singh echoes this sentiment, urging parents to avoid geotags, limit online sharing, and use strict privacy settings. If a child's photo is leaked or misused, it can be difficult to remove it from the internet completely.

Ghibli-style Images Are Fun, But Worth The Risk?

While AI-generated art and filters are fun, the risks of uploading personal images extend far beyond.

The momentary joy of seeing yourself in a stylized portrait and sharing it with the world can have consequences we aren’t even familiar with yet, thanks to the ever-evolving online space. With deepfake technology evolving rapidly and personal data becoming increasingly valuable, cyber experts urge users to think twice before handing over their images to AI apps.

As Himachal Cyber Warriors, a cybersecurity advocacy group, warns:

“That cute ‘Ghibli-style’ selfie? It might cost more than you think.”

⚠️ Think before you #Ghibli ⚠️

That cute “Ghibli-style” selfie? It might cost more than you think.

🔎 Your photo could be misused or manipulated.
🧑‍💻 AI may train on it without your consent.
💰 Data brokers might sell it for targeted ads.
Stay cyber smart. Your privacy matters.… pic.twitter.com/aEjT3sHtTN

— Himachal Cyber Warriors (@hpcyberwarriors) March 29, 2025

In an era where data privacy is more fragile than ever, staying cyber-smart is the only defense.