Survey Finds Widespread Concern About AI-Generated Intimate Abuse and Online Deception
Summary
A March 2026 survey of 1,500 people across five countries found widespread concern about AI-generated intimate images, impersonation and online deception, alongside use of chatbots for emotional support and relationship advice.
Key points
- The survey covered 1,500 respondents in the US, UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland; it was conducted in March 2026 and distributed via Forsta.
- About one in six respondents said they had used a chatbot for companionship or emotional support; 65% worried private AI conversations could be exposed.
- Nearly two-thirds worried someone could create fake explicit images or videos of them; one in ten said AI had been used to generate such imagery without permission.
- One in ten said someone had threatened to release AI-generated compromising or explicit imagery of them.
- Respondents reported concerns about impersonation and reputational harm: 76% worried about fake profiles posing as them, 70% about fake images or videos, and 71% about reputational damage.
- Overall, 88% said AI makes it harder to tell whether online content is genuinely human or real, and 84% said convincing video evidence may no longer feel like proof.
Article Details
- Publisher
- Malwarebytes
- Report Period
- March 2026
- Scope
- Survey of attitudes and experiences concerning AI, identity, intimacy, and digital trust in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
- Sample Size
- 1,500 respondents
- Key Statistics
- 65% of respondents worry that private conversations they have had with AI could be exposed.
- 62% worry that someone could create fake nude or sexually explicit images or videos of them.
- One in ten respondents said AI had been used to generate nude or sexually explicit imagery of them without permission.
- One in ten respondents said someone had threatened to release AI-generated compromising or explicit imagery of them.
- 88% said AI is making it harder to tell whether online content is genuinely human or real.
- Recommendations
- Check suspicious links before clicking; Malwarebytes promotes Scam Guard for analyzing suspicious links, texts, and screenshots.
Vendors
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Countries
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