Unsettling Experience: Unexpectedly Receiving Someone Else’s Medical Information from ChatGPT
Recently, I found myself in a rather alarming situation while interacting with ChatGPT. What began as a simple inquiry about selecting the appropriate sandpaper took an unexpected turn that left me both confused and concerned.
Instead of receiving guidance related to my query, I was presented with sensitive medical information pertaining to an individual who resides quite far from me. The response included a detailed overview of someone’s drug test results along with personally identifiable information, including signatures. Understandably, this discovery left me feeling uneasy.
As I processed the situation, I considered the implications of such a breach of privacy. I grappled with the decision of how to handle the information, as I certainly did not want to contribute to the unauthorized dissemination of someone else’s private data. It’s unsettling to think that a casual conversation could lead to the exposure of intimate details about another person’s life.
In my attempt to share my experience without compromising the confidentiality of the individual involved, I posted a comment on Reddit detailing my interaction. However, I made sure to remove any references to my own personal information when discussing the issue. My concern largely stemmed from the possibility of ChatGPT fabricating this data, an alarming reality known as “hallucination.” Checking online, I found that some names and details I encountered did, in fact, correspond with real individuals in the relevant locale.
For those interested, I’ve shared a link to my comment thread where I unpack this experience further: Link to Reddit comment.
I acknowledge that platforms like Reddit may elicit various reactions, and I appreciate the engagement from the community. I assure readers that I am genuinely concerned about addressing this issue responsibly. Instances like this underscore the significance of privacy and data security in our increasingly digital interactions. If anyone else has faced a similar issue or has advice on how to proceed, I would greatly value your insights.
