Data privacy risks rise with IoT and mobile app permissions

Digital privacy and data security are increasingly at risk due to the widespread use of the Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile applications. During a recent discussion hosted by the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) and AICDMX, cybersecurity expert Leonardo Morales warned that connected devices constantly record routines, preferences, and habits, storing this information on external servers.

Morales noted that artificial intelligence enhances this risk by using machine learning to analyze collected data, identify patterns, and make decisions based on user behavior, effectively eroding personal privacy. Data is categorized into ordinary information, such as names and emails, and sensitive information, including medical and financial records.

On mobile devices, users often grant excessive permissions to applications without reading terms. Critical permissions involving GPS location, cameras, and microphones can allow data analysis companies to build detailed profiles of daily movements and consumer habits for third-party sale. Experts recommend auditing mobile privacy settings regularly, restricting location access to when apps are actively in use, and limiting camera and microphone permissions to prevent malicious software from collecting background audio or images.