CMU Researchers Roll Out Machine Learning App to Manage App Privacy Settings

A team of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) researchers launched a mobile app that helps Android users configure many privacy settings necessary to take control of their personal data. The project expands the frontiers of the university’s “IoT expedition,” a collaboration with Google and several other higher ed institutions that aims to create new technology for the Internet of Things.

Privacy Assistant helps users personalize their app privacy permissions settings.

CMU’s Personalized Privacy Assistant Project designed Privacy Assistant, which utilizes machine learning to take control of the information that apps on Android devices routinely collect. It works by asking users a few simple questions about their privacy preferences and then recommends specific permissions settings to best meet those needs. The app is available on the Google Play Store. (It’s only available for use on rooted mobile devices running Android 5.X; Android 6 and 7 users must have “signature verification” disabled to use the app.)

Most people prefer to use recommendations from privacy assistants to manage their mobile app permissions settings, a study found. The Personalized Privacy Assistant Project is building an infrastructure that will enable resource owners to not only present their resources, but share their associated privacy practices. Along with this technology, the researchers are developing privacy assistants that are user-friendly and utilize machine learning techniques.

“We envision personalized privacy assistants as intelligent agents capable of learning the privacy preferences of their users over time, semi-automatically configuring many settings, and making many privacy decisions on their behalf. Through targeted interactions, privacy assistants will help their users better appreciate the ramifications associated with the processing of their data, and empower them to control such processing in an intuitive and effective manner,” the project website explains. For example, researchers are currently exploring the idea of adding “nudges” to the app, or notifications that will inform users of data they are sharing.  

To learn more about the Personalized Privacy Assistant Project, watch the video below or visit the CMU site.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Training the Next Generation of Space Cybersecurity Experts

    CT asked Scott Shackelford, Indiana University professor of law and director of the Ostrom Workshop Program on Cybersecurity and Internet Governance, about the possible emergence of space cybersecurity as a separate field that would support changing practices and foster future space cybersecurity leaders.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Launches Claude for Education

    Anthropic has announced a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

  • AI microchip, a cybersecurity shield with a lock, a dollar coin, and a laptop with financial graphs connected by dotted lines

    Survey: Generative AI Surpasses Cybersecurity in 2025 Tech Budgets

    Global IT leaders are placing bigger bets on generative artificial intelligence than cybersecurity in 2025, according to new research by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

  • university building surrounded by icons for AI, checklists, and data governance

    Improving AI Governance for Stronger University Compliance and Innovation

    AI can generate valuable insights for higher education institutions and it can be used to enhance the teaching process itself. The caveat is that this can only be achieved when universities adopt a strategic and proactive set of data and process management policies for their use of AI.