New York State Division of Consumer Protection Issues Alert on AI Chatbot Data Sharing Risks
The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection has issued a consumer alert advising New Yorkers on the risks of sharing personal information with AI chatbots. This alert comes as AI chatbot usage is on the rise, with approximately half of U.S. adults reporting use of these tools, and a quarter using them daily, according to a June 2026 Pew Research Survey. Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley emphasized that oversharing information with these programs can lead to inadvertent release of private data, increasing the risk of identity theft and financial harm. Acting ITS Chief Information Officer Jenson Jacob further cautioned that any information given to an AI chatbot should be assumed to be collected for training, potentially viewed by human reviewers, or vulnerable to hacking. The Division recommends never sharing sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, passport numbers, account passwords, PINs, credit card details, or health information on these platforms.
