CCTV recently exposed the security risks behind services such as "unlimited freeloading of Doubao memberships." Reporters' hands-on tests found that the so-called "unlimited freeloading of memberships" is mainly achieved through cycling operations across multiple devices and multiple accounts, and some merchants also offer subleasing of model services and the sale of API keys. However, these services may carry risks such as account bans, privacy leaks, and financial losses.
The report pointed out that some "rented time" services do not use Doubao's official platform, meaning users' complete conversations with AI may be viewed by the service provider. Some API keys sold by sellers may also have been stolen by hackers; once the key's rightful holder notices anomalies and takes ban measures, the buyer's service may be cut off.
Cybersecurity experts warned that such merchants essentially act as "middlemen reselling" large-model services, and the relay workstation servers they set up may record users' interaction content. The prompts users enter, the files they upload, and the code they generate all risk being retained by unscrupulous relay stations and even resold. Such practices may also cross legal red lines.
As demand for AI services grows, the privacy and account security risks brought by unofficial relays and discounted membership transactions deserve vigilance. Users should prioritize subscribing to and accessing model services through official channels and avoid submitting sensitive information to unknown platforms.