Cybersecurity experts are advising people to be careful while taking and sharing selfies that clearly show their hands or fingers. According to them, high-resolution photos can now be used by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to extract fingerprint details, putting personal biometric data at risk.
Modern smartphones capture extremely clear images. If your fingertips are clearly visible and facing the camera, especially from a close distance (within 1.5 meters), AI tools can potentially reconstruct your fingerprint patterns. Fingerprints are widely used to unlock phones, make payments, and verify identity, making them highly sensitive.
This warning gained global attention after Chinese security expert Li Chang demonstrated on a TV show how he could recreate a celebrity’s fingerprints from a single photo using AI. Similar concerns have been raised in South Korea, where hand gestures like V-signs, finger hearts, and flower poses are very common in photos.
There have already been cases where criminals reportedly tried to unlock smart door locks using fingerprints stolen from online photos.
Experts recommend avoiding selfies that clearly show fingerprints. They suggest being cautious about hand poses in group photos and limiting the sharing of high-resolution hand images on social media.
As AI technology improves, protecting biometric data is becoming increasingly important for personal security.
