AI deepfakes are in our schools. What's the right way to handle them?
Deepfake pornography created using AI has targeted students at The Friends School in Tasmania, prompting criticism from parents over the school's handling of the incident. Officials say the school followed police and expert advice, but parents argue their children felt unsupported and confused. With deepfakes increasingly circulating in schools, authorities stress the need for better responses that prioritize student well-being and agency.
- ▪A deepfake incident at The Friends School in Tasmania involved AI-generated pornographic images of 21 female students.
- ▪Parents were advised not to tell their daughters about the deepfakes, a decision the school said followed police and expert guidance.
- ▪The eSafety Commissioner reported a 550% increase in online deepfakes since 2019, with 98% of the content being pornographic and 99% targeting women and girls.
- ▪Deepfake incidents are occurring at least once a week in Australian schools, causing emotional distress and confusion among students.
- ▪Schools are considered frontline responders to deepfake abuse, and best practices emphasize student well-being and involvement in decision-making over institutional reputation.
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AI deepfakes are circulating in our schools. What's the right way to handle them?By Alison CostelloeTopic:AIWed 29 Apr 2026 at 2:51pmWed 29 Apr 2026 at 2:51pmWed 29 Apr 2026 at 2:51pmDeepfake content, which can be photos or videos generated by artificial intelligence, is increasingly being circulated in Australian schools. (Pexels: kaboompics)abc.net.au/news/what-should-schools-do-about-ai-deepfakes-friends-school-hobart/106619686Link copiedShareShare articleA Tasmanian school has been criticised by parents over its response to a deepfake incident targeting 21 female students. The parents say they were advised by The Friends School not to tell their daughters their images had been identified in deepfake pornographic images.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).