Deepfake Bullying in Schools

Deepfake bullying became a widespread school problem once 'nudify' apps and image generators made it possible to turn a clothed social media photo into a fake nude with no technical skill. Reported cases include Almendralejo, Spain, in 2023, where AI nude images of more than twenty girls circulated, and schools in New Jersey and Beverly Hills, California, where students were disciplined or expelled over fakes of classmates. Victims are mostly girls, and the harm resembles having a real intimate image shared: shame, anxiety, avoiding school and fear the image will resurface. The first rule for adults is to protect the victim and preserve evidence without spreading the image. Realistic AI-generated sexual images of minors can count as child sexual abuse material under US federal law and in many other countries, so adults should not screenshot, download or forward them. Instead, record where it appeared, when, account names and who shared it, and report to police and, in the US, to NCMEC's CyberTipline. Take It Down lets families hash an image so platforms can block it; StopNCII.org offers a similar service for adults. In May 2025 the US enacted the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which criminalizes publishing nonconsensual intimate images including AI-generated ones and requires covered platforms to remove them after a valid request. Laws vary by state and country. Schools should treat these incidents as sexual harassment and abuse, not a technology prank. That means clear policies, trained staff, a fast reporting route, support for the targeted student, and proportionate consequences for those who made or shared the image. A common misconception is that labeling an image as fake removes the harm; victim accounts show it does not. Another is that deleting one post solves it, when copies often already exist elsewhere.