Meta’s Muse AI assistant collects data on users and their contacts
The popular app requests access to bank accounts and messages, raising privacy concerns about non-consensual data sharing.
Key points
- Meta’s Muse app reached number one on Apple’s App Store after launching last month.
- The agent requests access to bank accounts, passwords, and chat logs from users.
- Privacy experts warn that the tool processes data of contacts who did not consent.
Meta’s new AI personal assistant, Muse, has reached the number one spot on Apple’s App Store since its release last month. According to The Verge, the application has been downloaded millions of times, prompting scrutiny over how it handles user data and the information of people in their social circles.
The app features a virtual avatar described as having a disarming grin. It encourages users to grant it broad permissions, including access to bank accounts, passwords, contacts, and chat logs. Meta states that this access is necessary for the agent to perform tasks on behalf of the user effectively.
Privacy concerns and data scope
Meredith Whittaker, president of the Signal Foundation, told The Verge that these systems are marketed as autonomous helpers. She noted that the actions apply not just to the installer but to everyone they communicate with. This includes friends, family, and past acquaintances, using intimate information such as emails, messages, and photos.
Whittaker emphasized that users may consent to sharing their own data, but their contacts have not given permission for their information to be processed. The Verge reports that this trend reflects a broader shift in consumer tech where gadgets monitor surroundings regardless of whether others consent to such surveillance.
Industry context and company stance
Daniel Roberts, a Meta spokesperson, explained to The Verge that agents require context about users and their interactions to be useful. He stated that the system needs this data to help users achieve their goals. The Verge characterizes this as a continuation of Silicon Valley’s trade-off of private data for convenience.
The article notes that privacy laws struggle to keep pace with what it calls luxury surveillance. While makers promise privacy, The Verge questions whether they will deliver on those assurances. The app’s rapid adoption highlights the appeal of automated task management despite the significant data exposure involved.
What should you do?
Users who have installed Muse should review the permissions granted to the application. The Verge reports that the app requests access to sensitive areas like bank accounts and chat logs. Individuals concerned about the privacy of their contacts should consider the implications of sharing such detailed interaction history with an AI agent.
What to do and how to stay safe: Meta
- Audit app permissions to limit access to bank accounts, passwords, and chat logs.
- Review privacy settings to understand how contact data is processed and stored.
- Monitor account activity for any unauthorized actions performed by the AI agent.
- Discuss data sharing implications with contacts who may be affected by your usage.
Step-by-step guide: Prompt Injection Warning Signs: How to Spot AI Manipulation
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
Does Meta’s Muse app share data with people who did not consent?
Yes, the app processes information about contacts and acquaintances based on the user’s data, even if those individuals did not consent.
What permissions does the Muse app request from users?
The app requests access to bank accounts, passwords, contacts, chat logs, emails, messages, and photos.
How popular is the Muse app currently?
Since launching last month, it has been downloaded millions of times and reached number one on Apple’s App Store.
