Phia: Controversial AI Shopping Tool Collects More User Data Than Reported, According to Security Researchers

Phia, an AI shopping assistant co-founded by Phoebe Gates, has raised concerns over user privacy following revelations from cybersecurity researchers. Initially aimed at simplifying online shopping, its browser extension was found to transmit extensive user data, including copies of web pages visited—regardless of whether they were shopping sites. Maahir Sharma, an ex-Meta engineer, uncovered that the extension collected complete HTML content of every page, leading to potential privacy violations under laws like GDPR. Although Phia has since disabled the controversial feature, many researchers remain worried about current data collection practices, which still gather sensitive URL information. Phia defends its operations, stating they only log data in aggregate and comply with privacy laws, though experts question the necessity and safety of such extensive data access. This incident highlights the urgent need for stricter oversight and transparency in AI-driven applications to protect user information.

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