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By Alison Costelloe
Topic:AI
Wed 29 Apr 2026 at 2:51pm
Deepfake content, which can be photos or videos generated by artificial intelligence, is increasingly being circulated in Australian schools. (Pexels: kaboompics)
A 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.
Parents of students at The Friends School have criticised how the school responded to the circulation of AI-doctored pornographic depictions of female students. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
They chose to tell them, but said their children felt silenced and unsupported, not knowing whether their peers had been told or not.
The school said it had acted on police and expert advice, and that the images had been created on personal devices outside of school hours, meaning it could not address the challenges of deepfakes on its own.
So what should parents and schools do when there's a deepfake incident involving students?
The eSafety Commissioner says victims often don't know their image has been used in a deepfake. (Supplied: Adobe Stock)
A deepfake is a photo, video or sound file that's been created using AI technology to show someone doing or saying something that they didn't actually do or say.
The material can be very realistic, especially when seen on a small screen, and is easily shared.
Two parents of girls at a private school have criticised the institution's response to a deepfake incident, saying they were encouraged not to tell their daughters.
The eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said deepfakes might be created for a range of reasons, such as to harass or humiliate someone, for sexual gratification, or for child sexual abuse.
Victims often don't know their image has been used in a deepfake.
The person creating the deepfake might use someone's social media image, such as a selfie or even a school photo.
Unfortunately, the apps that create this kind of material are easy to use, often at low or no cost.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant says deepfake incidents are throwing entire schools into turmoil. (Four Corners: Keana Naughton)
It's a crisis, according to the eSafety commissioner.
In 2024, data showed a 550 per cent year-on-year increase in deepfakes appearing online since 2019.
Pornographic videos made up 98 per cent of the deepfake material online, and that 99 per cent of the imagery was of women and girls.
The latest data revealed by Australia's eSafety Commissioner comes just days after reports that digitally altered explicit images of female students from a Sydney high school were shared online.
Deepfake incidents were throwing entire schools into turmoil, Ms Inman Grant said, with staff, parents and students often unsure how to respond.
Targets were left feeling humiliated, angry and afraid.
Students on the receiving end of deepfake material — in group chats or private messages — were sometimes also left feeling fearful and confused, unsure whether to report it or how to support their friends.
They often also worried they'd be next.
It can be a very difficult topic to navigate, particularly when material can be made on private devices and in private settings, but it still involves students.
The well-being of the young people and/or any staff members involved is a priority, according to the eSafety Commissioner.
Deepfake content can be quickly created on devices like laptops and phones, making it challenging to crack down on. (Unsplash: Kaitlyn Baker)
Schools are considered frontline responders and they need to give student victims a sense of agency and be involved in decision-making.
The reputation of the school shouldn't be the focus of the response.
As the first case under new anti-deepfake legislation goes before the courts, authorities and experts say the rise in the creation of the non-consensual sexually explicit material is concerning.
A school staff leader should be appointed to manage the incident, with information shared only on a need-to-know basis.
The incident should be reported to police and eSafety, and the family of an affected student should be kept informed of the actions the school is taking.
The school should also engage additional services to support the well-being of those involved.
It's also important to build policies and education around digital literacy, respectful relationships, and consent.
Policies around digital literacy and consent can help prevent the creation of deepfake content. (ABC Mildura Swan Hill: Timu King)
If your child comes to you, stay calm and start working out a plan to respond to the incident together.
The eSafety commissioner suggests collecting evidence — screenshots, links, usernames — without saving or sharing the content.
Some parents may feel distressed and ill-equipped to tackle the issue of image-based abuse and deepfakes. This is what to watch out for.
Next, help them report the incident to the school, police, eSafety and any online platforms involved.
Know that your child may be feeling shame, humiliation, self-blame, fear that they won't be believed, isolation and mistrust. Seek support on their behalf, if they need it.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing it with your child if you find out before them that they've been identified in deepfake material.
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The Sexual Assault Support Service says there may be various reasons that parents don't want to tell their child — such as age or mental health concerns — but it encourages transparency where possible and says parents can approach services like SASS for advice.
If your child tells you they received a deepfake, praise them for telling you, for not sharing it and reinforce that speaking up was the right thing to do.
If your child has created or shared a deepfake, explain the serious legal and emotional consequences and encourage accountability by ensuring they delete and report the content, and apologise for their part in it.
The Sexual Assault Support Service recommends its PAST (Prevention, Assessment, Support and Treatment) early intervention program for parents concerned their child may have been involved in creating or sharing sexually-explicit images, including deepfakes.
Yes.
In 2024, Australia introduced new laws banning the sharing of non-consensual deepfake adult pornography.
An Adelaide teenager who was the first person charged under new nationwide laws aimed at tackling deepfake pornography has pleaded guilty to two counts of creating or altering sexual material without consent.
It carries a maximum jail sentence of six years. Some young people might create and share deepfakes as a prank or experiment without realising that it can be a serious criminal offence.
In April this year, the first Australian to be prosecuted under Commonwealth laws pleaded guilty.
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