Facing the Future: The Crucial Conversation on Deepfakes for Parents and Kids

In today's tech-savvy world, it's crucial for parents to address the rising issue of deepfake technology and its potential impact on our children. Recent incidents, such as the one in a New Jersey high school where students created fake nude photos of their classmates using AI, underscore the real-world consequences of these digital manipulations. Let's delve into a conversation about what deepfakes are, their legal implications, and how we can guide our kids through this digital landscape.

Fake Pictures, Real Problems   

The situation in New Jersey serves as a wake-up call. With easy access to tools that create and share fake images, concerns about privacy and consent have become more significant than ever. Traditionally, deepfakes were used to alter the appearances of politicians, but now, 96 percent of them are explicit, and 99 percent target women. This shift raises serious questions about the ethics and legal issues surrounding this kind of technology.

Legal Confusion: Understanding Deepfake Laws   

Unlike some other harmful actions, there's no national law against making or spreading deepfakes. While some states, like Virginia, Illinois, Hawaii, and California, have created their own rules, there's no clear national standard. Making things trickier, it's hard to take legal action against deepfakes because they're made using a mix of images, making it tough to track them down or file copyright complaints.

Starting the Talk