Prompts and Privacy

Tool: DALL-E 3 through ChatGPT-4o w. Plus Subscription

Prompt: “Create an image of a college student defending their privacy from Big Brother. ”

Privacy note: Some AI image tools include invisible watermarks in their images to allow tracking of AI usage and later alterations. This one does not.

Be careful when writing prompts the types of information you include in the prompt and the kinds of information that the prompt may ask of students. Unless the University has vetted and approved an app, do not upload or request:

• Personally Identifiable Information (such as name, age, email, location, dates, etc.)
• Situations that may be sensitive or could identify an individual.
• Any information that is not public or could be made public.
• Any confidential internal University information.
• FERPA- or HIPAA-protected data.

Tips on Anonymizing (courtesy of ChatGPT-4o)

(Prompt: “Please give me some privacy tips that apply to writing prompts.”)

• Avoid Personal Information: Refrain from including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, or any other personally identifiable information.
• Generalize Details: Use general descriptions instead of specific ones. For instance, instead of mentioning a specific school or workplace, refer to it as “a local school” or “a company.”
• Anonymize Characters: If your prompt involves people, use generic names or roles (e.g., “Person A” or “the teacher”) rather than real names.
• Abstract Sensitive Situations: If your prompt deals with sensitive or potentially identifiable situations, abstract them to a more general level. For example, “a difficult personal decision” instead of a detailed description of someone’s private dilemma.
• Avoid Specific Dates and Times: Using exact dates or times can make it easier to identify events and people. Stick to more general time frames like “recently” or “a few years ago.”
• Be Mindful of Locations: Avoid mentioning exact locations. Instead, use broader terms like “in a city,” “in the countryside,” or “in a coastal town.”
• Focus on Themes and Concepts: When possible, keep the focus on broader themes, concepts, or emotions rather than specific personal experiences.
• Check for Traces of Identifiable Information: Before finalizing your prompt, review it to ensure there are no inadvertent mentions of identifiable information.
• Seek Consent: If you’re using information or scenarios that involve other people, ensure you have their consent or anonymize the information thoroughly.
• Use Placeholder Names: If you need to use names, use common or placeholder names that don’t directly reference real individuals.