Avast Safe Tech Report examines confidence gaps in AI fake detection and data sharing
1st article in the last 90 days, one of 30 articles referencing Avast. Previous coverage: Avast expands Scam Guardian globally and launches Deepfake Guard (Feb 2026).
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Avast released its 2026 Safe Tech Report on how adults view trust, privacy, and AI tools in everyday life. The study focuses on a gap between confidence in spotting AI fakes and practices for protecting personal data. The findings were drawn from an online study conducted across 12 markets from May 22 to June 19, 2026.
According to the report, 56% of adults worldwide said they were convinced they would catch an AI fake immediately. At the same time, 52% said they had shared or considered sharing at least one sensitive item with an AI tool, including chatbot interactions. Avast tied the disparity to what it called an “AI confidence trap,” where confidence in one behavior can reduce caution about the other.
The report also included survey results and references to Gen Threat Labs research. It said AI was involved in tens of millions of video encounters worldwide in the first half of 2026, with about 1 in 30 flagged as a scam. It further reported that 20% of adults had shared or considered sharing a CV with an AI chatbot and another 20% had done so with a work document, framing the larger risk as the persistence of shared material in AI tool systems.
Richard Watts, Head of Avast, said, “Being confident you'd spot an AI fake and knowing when and how to protect your data are two different skills. However, confidence in one can convince people they're safe with the other, and that's the trap.” The report described other patterns related to scam warning signs and how people handle suspicious messages, including that 41% delete and say nothing and 20% look into suspicious activity by themselves. The report’s statistical findings were paired with recommendations presented as habits, along with an overview of the study methodology and markets included in the online survey.
Press release, provided by Cision on behalf of Avast. Read the original.