AI Apps Are 'Peeking' at Your Data? Surfshark Report: Mainstream AI Collects 14 User Data Items on Average

The AI chatbots you use daily may be secretly collecting your data. A report from cybersecurity firm Surfshark shows that mainstream AI apps collect an average of 14 user data items based on Apple's 35 data categories. 70% of these apps access location data, a sharp increase from 40% in 2025.

Meta AI collects the most data—33 items (95% of the categories), including financial information, race, sexual orientation, and other sensitive content. Google Gemini collects 23 items, covering precise location and device contacts. ChatGPT's data collection surged 70% year-over-year, from 10 to 17 items, adding non-essential data like health and advertising info.

Security experts warn that AI is handling high-confidential files like tax and medical records, which can easily flow into third-party ad networks. Users are advised to treat AI conversations as public information, check privacy settings immediately, and turn off chat history.