Deepfake technology, once considered futuristic, has now become a pressing concern for Australian school communities.
These AI-driven tools are capable of creating convincing fake images and videos, often without the subject’s consent. Alarmingly, they are being used to target students—causing real harm in classrooms, online spaces, and at home.
This technology works by manipulating photos and videos using artificial intelligence. In particular, apps known as “nudify” tools generate synthetic explicit material from ordinary images. A school photo, selfie, or social media post can be exploited and transformed into something distressing. The resulting deepfakes often look convincing enough to cause shame, anxiety, and confusion—even when viewers know they’re not real.
Many of these apps are free or cheap, easy to access, and increasingly marketed to younger audiences. That accessibility makes them incredibly dangerous. Students may experiment without understanding the legal or emotional consequences. Unfortunately, these fakes are often shared as jokes or forms of bullying, leaving the victims to deal with the fallout alone.
Social media platforms, group chats, and messaging apps are the most common channels where deepfakes circulate. Some students receive AI-generated images of their peers. Others become the target. Even the threat of creating a fake can be used to manipulate or silence someone. For many young people, it’s unclear who to tell, how to respond, or whether they’ll be believed.
Read more: Digital doubt grows: 86% say AI makes it harder to tell real from fake online content
Communication is key. Parents, carers, and schools must talk openly about deepfake risks. Judgement-free conversations give young people the confidence to speak up if something happens. It also helps to reinforce that being targeted is never their fault. Encouraging students to document evidence—without saving or sharing explicit content—and guiding them through official reporting channels is critical.
Schools are being urged to take a proactive approach. Updating policies, training staff, and educating students about the ethical use of AI should become standard practice. Addressing digital consent and image-based abuse in lessons helps set clear expectations. Equipping wellbeing teams to respond sensitively and consistently is just as important as technical interventions.
The law is beginning to catch up. In some jurisdictions, it is now an offence to create or distribute explicit deepfake or AI-generated material without consent. Still, legal consequences don’t replace the need for early intervention and support.
Prevention starts with awareness. By staying informed, building trust, and reinforcing respectful digital behaviour, schools and families can help protect young people from this emerging threat. Education and communication remain the strongest defences in a rapidly changing online world.
