As AI Enters Children's Storybooks, Data Privacy Becomes a Concern

Children generally enjoy storybooks as a means of entertainment and learning. As technology develops, storybooks are now available not only in print but can also be created digitally with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). This technology allows users to create personalised stories, from inserting a child’s name and photo to making them the main character in the book. However, this convenience has also raised concerns regarding story quality and the use of children’s personal data. According to a WIRED report, this trend is growing in the United States after a number of grandparents utilised AI services such as Imagitime, StoryWonderBook, and Childbook.ai to create personalised books for their grandchildren. Although intended as a gift, some parents admit to feeling uncomfortable because their child’s photo and identity were entered into an AI platform without their consent. WIRED wrote that one Reddit user recounted how their mother created an AI-based storybook for her grandchild despite being asked not to upload family photos or personal data to AI services. According to the user, the mother created a story based on the grandchild’s experiences and used the family name, making it feel representative of their lives. This situation has sparked concerns regarding children’s data privacy. For some parents, the use of photos and personal information in AI services is a significant issue, particularly regarding transparency about how that data is stored and utilised. Daozhi Xu, a researcher from the School of Humanities at Macquarie University, said these concerns are reasonable. According to her, questions remain regarding the transparency of the use and storage of children’s photos on AI platforms, so parents need to understand how service providers manage that data. WIRED also interviewed several parents about their experiences receiving AI-based storybooks. From these interviews, a number of parents assessed that AI-based storybooks have not yet managed to capture children’s interest. A 41-year-old father in the Midwest told WIRED that his two children, aged 7 and 3, had received AI-generated storybooks from friends and family members. According to him, the stories in the books were too long, so his children only read them once before returning to their favourite books. He felt his children were actually bored even though the stories featured them as the main characters. A similar experience was shared by a 40-year-old father in Los Angeles. He admitted his mother-in-law gave him four AI-based storybooks featuring images of his two children. However, he questioned the use of his children’s photos in AI services and considered the practice to raise ethical and privacy issues. According to Daozhi Xu, personalisation does not automatically make a child like a book. She explained that children are more interested in stories with strong characters, engaging plots, humour, and imaginative worlds that build curiosity. Xu also found that books fully generated by AI still often have weaknesses, such as spelling errors, inconsistent plots, and illustrations that do not align with the story content. The use of AI in creating children’s storybooks offers a new way to make personalised stories. However, the WIRED report shows that story quality, personal data protection, and transparency in the use of children’s information remain concerns amid this growing trend.