As we know, AI has profoundly changed what it means to be a young person in school. Most of the national conversation centers around how AI impacts learning. But another less visible challenge of AI in schools is also emerging: AI-driven harassment, manifesting primarily as nonconsensual explicit deepfakes.

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This form of harassment goes by many names, from “deepfake nudes” to nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII). Regardless, the fundamental issue is simple: bad actors using generative AI or other digital media tools to create fake explicit images or videos of real people. This content can be used to facilitate a variety of harms, from distributing it to others without the victim’s knowledge or consent, or used to blackmail and coerce the victim.

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Being targeted by nonconsensual explicit deepfakes can feel terrifying to navigate. Facing this form of abuse can be incredibly hard to talk about. It’s normal to feel uncomfortable, and you may have thoughts in your head saying, “this is my fault,” “this isn’t worth making a big deal about,” or “nobody’s going to believe me.” None of those things are true.