NYS Consumer Protection Warns Against Sharing Data with AI Chatbots

ALBANY, NY (November 10, 2026) — The New York State Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection has issued a warning to residents about the dangers of sharing personal information with AI chatbots.

“AI chatbots are helpful, but sharing sensitive information can increase risk of identity theft and other financial harms for users,” Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said. “As such, the NYS Division of Consumer Protection will continue to remain hard at work safeguarding New Yorkers by offering tips on how to protect their personal information when using AI.”

According to a Pew Research Survey conducted in June 2026, AI chatbot usage is increasing, with 51% of U.S. adults reporting usage and 25% using AI tools daily. This trend has raised concerns about users sharing personal information with AI chatbots for health advice, emotional support, and companionship.

Acting ITS Chief Information Officer Jenson Jacob emphasized the importance of managing identity theft risks by not sharing sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, passport numbers, account passwords, PINs, credit card details, health information, or other personal information.

What You Need to Know About AI Chatbots

As outlined by a recent Stanford University study, information shared with AI chatbots may be collected and used for training and could be viewed by a human reviewer or hacked. Public AI chatbots can collect user prompts to train future versions of AI models, meaning private words may not remain private.

Tips for Using AI Chatbots

Users are advised to avoid posting or disclosing personal information such as personal identifying information, financial information, health information, legal documents, usernames, or passwords. Many AI chatbots may save chats and data for AI training by default, so users should opt out of having their future data saved when possible.

This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.

Have information about this story? Email robertcox@talkofthesound (preferred) or contact via WhatsApp: +353 089 972 0669.