It's amazing how fast cellphones have evolved – from the iconic early 'bricks' to the tiniest flip phones possible, then shifting to flat touchscreen devices and the triumphant return of the clamshell design, which now opens to make an even bigger touchscreen. Along with all those external design changes, the smartphone's software capabilities have also advanced in leaps and bounds.

When we could first make payments on mobile devices, it seemed like science fiction – yet nowadays you can handle almost all your banking transactions digitally. The tech has advanced to the point where you can make calls on your watch, and your phone camera can zoom in on the moon. The digital age is transforming the world faster than anyone imagined – in part, thanks to the development and rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

Safeguard your social media information from AI

AI and data collection are woven into almost every digital experience nowadays, so protecting your privacy is more important than ever. Social media platforms, search engines, and even your phone's operating system constantly gather data about you – sometimes in ways you may not even realise. As you browse the internet, shop online, or scroll through social media, companies are tracking your activity.

At best, this is so that they can target you with adverts and content that match your online behaviour. They may try to convince you to buy things you don't need. In a worst-case scenario, however, unscrupulous operators can use data collection and dark patterns in their website design to harvest your information for criminal purposes.

Although data-collection features are meant to enhance your experience, they also raise concerns about data security and personal privacy. For example, many fiction and non-fiction authors recently expressed their outrage that their published works had been used (without permission, payment or respect for copyright laws) to train large language models for various AI content generation programs. It's worrying to think that your personal information and correspondence might be used in a similar way.

Take back your control by adjusting your privacy settings on some key platforms.

Follow these steps:
 

LinkedIn 

1. Log in to LinkedIn and click on your profile picture at the top right corner.
2. From the drop-down menu, select Settings & Privacy.
3. Click Data Privacy.
4. Find the Generative AI option. By default, it will be turned on.
5. Switch it off.

Facebook

1. Once you've logged in to your account, click on your account icon at the top right corner.
2. Choose Settings & Privacy and then go to Privacy Centre.
3. Select Other policies and articles in the menu at the left.
4. Click How Meta uses information for generative AI models.
5. Scroll down and click Learn more and submit requests here.
6. From the left menu, go to the Face recognition section.
7. Click the blue Edit link next to the Face recognition option.
8. Change the setting under Do you want Facebook to recognize you in photos and videos? to 'No'.
9. Click Close to save your new preference.

Instagram

1. Log in to your Instagram profile.
2. Tap the 3 horizontal lines at the top right of your screen.
3. Select Settings.
4. Scroll down to Suggestions and toggle it off.

X

1. Log in to your account.
2. Go to Settings and privacy on the left side of your screen.
3. Click on Privacy and Safety.
4. Select Grok & Third-party Collaborators.
5. Uncheck the box to turn off the feature.

Google

1. Log in to your Google account.
2. Tap your profile image in the top right corner.
3. Choose Settings.
4. Click Google Assistant.
5. Select General.
6. Toggle off Google Assistant.

You can also:

• Remove AI Overviews in Google Search by tapping the web filter at the top of the screen.
• Turn off Google AI Overviews in Chrome by going to Settings > Search engine and adjusting the settings.
• Disable predictive text and email suggestions in Gmail by opening Gmail and disabling the feature in Settings.

Android and iOS platforms

It's difficult to create a one-size-fits-all guide to privacy settings on Android or Apple devices, because each operating system has its own suite of features, each with its own procedure for securing privacy. The apps you download on these platforms will also have their own individual privacy policies, and their controls may be different for iOS and Android platforms. For example, some apps have a privacy setting that by default allows the app to harvest your data for AI training – you'd have to find that privacy setting and switch it off to prevent collection of your data.

There are 2 ways to reduce your privacy risks:

• Download apps only from the official app stores run by reputable brands like Apple, Google, Android, etc. Never trust a link 'to download the app' in a spam email, text, or social media post – instead, go to the relevant app store and search for a verified app to download.
  
  
• Go through the security settings of every feature and app on your mobile device, checking the privacy options and opting out of data collection and sharing your information whenever you can. Remember to check that no apps are using facial recognition software to identify or tag you in photos.

Review your privacy settings regularly

If you update your settings regularly and stay up to date on the latest data privacy trends, you can take back control over your digital footprint. At Nedbank, we take your privacy and security seriously.

Unlike other platforms, we don't collect or share your data for advertising or AI recommendations when you use the Money app or Online Banking. We don't scan your personal data or share your banking info with advertisers. Your account is protected with biometric authentication, and all transactions are encrypted. Plus, we regularly update our security measures to keep your data safe.

For secure banking, you can trust Nedbank to protect your data while giving you the best digital banking experience.