ChatGPT Selfie Trend Sparks Fresh Biometric Privacy Debate in Kenya

Published: 11 Feb 2026

Nairobi – A viral ChatGPT selfie trend has triggered renewed debate over biometric privacy in Kenya, just weeks after authorities confirmed the deletion of sensitive iris data collected during the controversial Worldcoin project.

Across social media, Kenyans have been uploading selfies to ChatGPT to generate stylized caricatures and AI portraits. While the trend appears harmless and creative, privacy regulators warn that users may be unknowingly sharing biometric data with artificial intelligence systems.

Data Commissioner Raises Red Flags

Kenya’s Data Commissioner, Immaculate Kassait, has cautioned citizens about the implications of uploading clear facial images to AI platforms. According to her office, a facial image qualifies as biometric data under the country’s Data Protection Act.

To generate AI caricatures, ChatGPT typically asks users to provide:

A clear selfie with good lighting
An unobstructed view of the face
Minimal filters or alterations

Privacy experts say these details make facial recognition and behavioral analysis more accurate. Kassait warned that once such data is uploaded, it can potentially be processed, analyzed, or used to improve AI systems.

She urged users to carefully review platform terms and understand how their data may be stored or utilized before participating in viral trends.

Echoes of the Worldcoin Controversy

The trend comes shortly after Kenya concluded a high-profile dispute with Worldcoin, the crypto-backed digital identity project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Worldcoin launched operations in Kenya in 2023, offering cryptocurrency tokens in exchange for iris scans collected through spherical devices known as “orbs.” The project quickly attracted crowds but also sparked alarm among regulators and civil society groups.

Authorities suspended Worldcoin’s activities, and Kenya’s High Court later ruled that the project had violated the Data Protection Act by collecting sensitive data without adequate safeguards. Last month, regulators confirmed that all biometric data gathered during the enrollment exercise had been erased.

Now, critics argue that Kenyans may be voluntarily providing similar biometric information through AI platforms, even as concerns about data security remain unresolved.

The Rise of AI and Surveillance Concerns

Digital rights advocates link the selfie trend to a broader issue often described as surveillance capitalism, where personal behavior and identity traits are transformed into data for analysis and monetization.

Although AI platforms say uploaded images are used to fulfill user requests, experts note that facial data can reveal far more than identity. It can reflect age, mood, health indicators, and behavioral patterns when analyzed at scale.

The renewed debate places Kenya at the center of a global conversation about AI ethics, biometric data protection, and the balance between innovation and privacy.

Growing Financial Pressure in the AI Industry

The timing of the trend also coincides with rapid commercial expansion in the AI sector. OpenAI and its rivals are racing to secure partnerships, build infrastructure, and monetize their platforms.

As competition intensifies, questions about data use, transparency, and user consent are becoming central to regulatory scrutiny worldwide.

For Kenyan regulators, the message remains clear: digital creativity should not come at the expense of personal data security.

As AI tools become more embedded in everyday life, the challenge will be ensuring that innovation moves forward without compromising privacy rights.