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Australian schools warned over AI deepfake threat targeting student and staff photos - Canberra, ACT
Smart summary
The e Safety Commissioner has urged Australian schools to review the photos they publish online after a rise in AI-generated deepfakes created from publicly available images of students and teachers.
Australian schools are being urged to reconsider how they share photographs of students and staff online as authorities warn that publicly available images are increasingly being exploited by artificial intelligence tools to create harmful deepfakes. The warning comes from Australia's e Safety Commissioner, who says there has been a noticeable increase in image-based abuse involving photographs taken from school websites and social media accounts.
According to the e Safety Commissioner, AI technology is now capable of manipulating ordinary photographs into highly realistic fake images within minutes. In some of the most disturbing cases, images of children have reportedly been altered using so-called "de-clothing" applications to create child exploitation material. Teachers have also become victims, with manipulated images being shared online without their knowledge or consent.
Experts say the rapid advancement of generative AI has made these tools more accessible than ever, allowing almost anyone with an internet connection to produce convincing fake images. As a result, schools are being encouraged to carefully assess whether identifiable photographs of students need to be published on publicly accessible websites and social media platforms.
The warning follows broader concerns about online safety in Australian schools. Some education providers have already begun changing their policies by reducing the number of recognisable student images they publish, instead using group photos, side profiles or images where children's identities are not easily identifiable. Digital safety experts have welcomed these changes, arguing they help reduce the risk of AI misuse while still allowing schools to celebrate student achievements.
The e Safety Commissioner also reminded parents and educators that once a photograph is uploaded to the internet, it can be copied, downloaded and redistributed without the original poster's knowledge. Even images shared with good intentions can later be manipulated using AI technology and circulated on websites or messaging platforms.
Technology companies operating in Australia are now subject to stronger expectations to detect and remove AI-generated intimate images and other forms of harmful synthetic media. However, authorities acknowledge that prevention remains the most effective defence, encouraging schools to review privacy settings, obtain informed consent before publishing images and limit unnecessary exposure of children online.
Parents are also encouraged to speak with children about online privacy and report any suspected AI-generated image abuse to the e Safety Commissioner. Officials say community awareness, stronger digital literacy and responsible use of technology are essential to protecting young Australians from the growing risks associated with artificial intelligence.
ImagesSafetySchoolsOnlineChildren
Australian schools are being urged to reconsider how they share photographs of students and staff online as authorities warn that publicly available images are increasingly being exploited by artificial intelligence tools to create harmful deepfakes. The warning comes from Australia's e Safety Commissioner, who says there has been a noticeable increase in image-based abuse involving photographs taken from school websites and social media accounts.
According to the e Safety Commissioner, AI technology is now capable of manipulating ordinary photographs into highly realistic fake images within minutes. In some of the most disturbing cases, images of children have reportedly been altered using so-called "de-clothing" applications to create child exploitation material. Teachers have also become victims, with manipulated images being shared online without their knowledge or consent.
Experts say the rapid advancement of generative AI has made these tools more accessible than ever, allowing almost anyone with an internet connection to produce convincing fake images. As a result, schools are being encouraged to carefully assess whether identifiable photographs of students need to be published on publicly accessible websites and social media platforms.
The warning follows broader concerns about online safety in Australian schools. Some education providers have already begun changing their policies by reducing the number of recognisable student images they publish, instead using group photos, side profiles or images where children's identities are not easily identifiable. Digital safety experts have welcomed these changes, arguing they help reduce the risk of AI misuse while still allowing schools to celebrate student achievements.
The e Safety Commissioner also reminded parents and educators that once a photograph is uploaded to the internet, it can be copied, downloaded and redistributed without the original poster's knowledge. Even images shared with good intentions can later be manipulated using AI technology and circulated on websites or messaging platforms.
Technology companies operating in Australia are now subject to stronger expectations to detect and remove AI-generated intimate images and other forms of harmful synthetic media. However, authorities acknowledge that prevention remains the most effective defence, encouraging schools to review privacy settings, obtain informed consent before publishing images and limit unnecessary exposure of children online.
Parents are also encouraged to speak with children about online privacy and report any suspected AI-generated image abuse to the e Safety Commissioner. Officials say community awareness, stronger digital literacy and responsible use of technology are essential to protecting young Australians from the growing risks associated with artificial intelligence.
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