Microsoft AI watermarks in Paint and Photos are linked to user IDs, researcher finds
Privacy? Not if you use hosted AI services
Microsoft has been embedding invisible watermarks in AI-generated images created with its Paint and Photos applications for Windows, according to a recent report. The company's approach to watermarking images goes beyond the minimum requirements set by the EU's AI transparency rules. These watermarks consist of a globally unique identifier (GUID) linked to the prompt used to generate the image.
Xusheng Li, a software developer at Vector 35, analyzed Microsoft's approach and found that the GUID is embedded as an invisible watermark in the image's pixels. The prompt sent to Microsoft for moderation is sent along with the GUID, which could potentially allow Microsoft to identify users based on the watermark. While Microsoft has not explicitly linked prompts to user accounts, the connection is theoretically possible.
Other companies, such as Meta and OpenAI, are also developing their own watermarking technologies to address AI safety concerns.
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