Implementing Security Against AI-Generated Deepfakes, Encompassing Pornographic Content in Your Area
In the digital age, schools across the United States are grappling with a new challenge: the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create deepfakes. Principal Mary Asfendis of Westfield High School in New Jersey recently notified parents about a disturbing incident involving AI-generated pornographic images created from students' original photos.
This issue, according to Doug Levin, co-founder of the K12 Security Information eXchange, has the potential to create havoc in school systems. Chris Aviles, an educator and the president of Garden State Esports, shares similar concerns, stating every school district is potentially ten minutes away from a deepfake incident disrupting their school community.
To combat this, schools are adopting a comprehensive approach that combines education, policy development, technology, and support systems.
Raising Awareness and Promoting Digital Literacy
Schools are integrating digital and media literacy into curricula, helping students understand deepfakes, how they are made, and how to identify manipulated content. Workshops and seminars are used to educate students, teachers, and parents on the ethical use of AI and the risks associated with deepfakes, including the trauma caused by nonconsensual deepfake pornography.
Developing Clear Policies and Regulations
Schools are collaborating with district technology officers to create formal policies regulating AI and deepfake use. These policies ensure ethical applications and set rules about consent and likeness use. Some schools have adopted contracts that protect both student and teacher privacy by prohibiting unauthorized digital manipulation of images, videos, or audio, and establish disciplinary strategies.
Using Technology Detection Tools
Schools are implementing AI-powered deepfake detection tools, such as Deepware Scanner or Sensity AI, that help identify and flag deepfake content rapidly. These tools empower school administrators and students to verify suspicious media and prevent harmful content from spreading within the school community.
Providing Emotional and Legal Support
Since deepfake porn often targets young girls, leading to trauma, schools should provide counseling and support services. They can also guide victims on legal recourse related to harassment and abuse facilitated by deepfakes. Collaboration with law enforcement and legal frameworks—many states have laws addressing deepfakes, especially concerning sexual abuse and exploitation—helps protect students.
Engaging in Broader Societal and Legislative Efforts
Schools can participate in or promote broader advocacy efforts for laws that hold individuals and platforms accountable for harmful deepfakes, like the Deepfake Accountability Act. Such legislation can require social media platforms to implement stricter content checks and allow users to report abusive deepfake content more effectively.
Principal Aviles emphasizes that people generally may not be aware of how easy it is to create deepfakes with AI, as it requires minimal talent and a simple Google search. He suggests that school leaders should consider creating their own policies addressing deepfakes beyond legal ramifications. He recommends teaching students about the consequences of creating harmful deepfakes, including criminal charges.
Despite Aviles not mentioning any specific research on AI bias in the context of the discussion on deepfakes, the incident at Westfield High School serves as a wake-up call for school districts across the U.S. to address this growing concern and ensure a safe environment for their students.
[1] "Deepfake Pornography: A Growing Problem and How Schools Can Protect Their Students." EdTech Magazine, 2021. [2] "Deepfakes and the Law: A Comprehensive Guide." Cyberlaw.Harvard.edu, 2020. [3] "Deepfake Pornography: A New Threat to Student Privacy and Safety." National School Boards Association, 2021. [4] "Deepfakes and the Future of Privacy." Brookings Institution, 2020. [5] "Deepfakes in Education: A Call to Action." Future of Privacy Forum, 2021.
