UAE warns AI users to check permissions before granting camera or location access

The UAE Cyber Security Council has cautioned users to exercise caution when granting artificial intelligence tools access to their device features, such as cameras, locations, and other functionalities. The Council emphasized that some AI services may collect personal information without users being aware of it. The Council warned that the greatest privacy risk associated with AI tools may not be the data users input, but the device functions and data that the tools are granted access to.

For instance, providing camera permission could expose users' faces and details of their surroundings. The Council also advised that AI tools presented in online search results should not be automatically deemed safe or trustworthy, as some may be designed to gather personal information covertly.

Residents were encouraged to verify the reliability of AI services before using them and to meticulously review each permission request instead of habitually accepting camera, location, or other device function permissions. The Council recommended using AI services from trusted and verified sources, limiting permissions to those genuinely required for the tool's functionality, and urged users to reject unnecessary permissions. Regularly reviewing which applications have access to sensitive device functions was also advised.

The warning comes amid the growing prevalence of AI-powered apps and online services seeking access to information typically used by mobile applications, including cameras, microphones, locations, and stored data. The Council has consistently urged users to limit unnecessary permissions and to periodically review which applications have access to sensitive device functions.

This advisory follows recent concerns about Iran deploying AI for cyber attacks, as well as the increasing risks of digital identity theft in the UAE. The Council further warned that one in 50 children faces digital identity theft risks in the country.