Education unions demand AI deepfake protections for students and teachers

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 01:03 · Archive

Australian education unions are calling for stronger legal protections after reports of AI-generated sexual deepfakes targeting schoolgirls and female teachers doubled in 18 months.

Australian education unions have called for urgent legal protections after reports of AI-generated sexual deepfakes targeting schoolgirls and female teachers escalated sharply. The Australian Education Union told a federal parliamentary inquiry in Melbourne that reports of deepfake image abuse involving school-aged children had doubled in 18 months, with at least one school-related incident reported each week. The union said artificial intelligence was making it easier to produce explicit manipulated images of female students and teachers.

AEU federal secretary Nicole Calnan said some incidents involving teachers were potentially driving staff out of the profession. The union called for stronger legal protections for both students and staff, arguing that a proposed digital duty of care should extend beyond children to cover all Australians. Independent Education Union federal secretary Brad Hayes said schools were being forced to manage the consequences of AI adoption before adequate safeguards had been established. 'We should not have to wait until girls or female teachers are harmed before protections are put in place,' Mr Hayes said.

The unions also raised concerns about the rapid introduction of AI platforms without adequate consultation with teachers. Education departments were making decisions about AI procurement before teachers were involved, leaving staff to adapt to systems they had little say in selecting. Ms Calnan said teachers were struggling to keep pace with constantly changing technology, describing them as 'flailing really, because they're playing catch up'.

How it is being reported

• Education unions demand urgent protections as AI deepfakes target schoolgirls and female teachersSchoolgirls and female teachers are being sexually exploited by AI deepfakes every week, yet education unions say adequate legal protections still do not exist.Perth Now · 22 Oct, 00:39
• Education unions demand urgent protections as AI deepfakes target schoolgirls and female teachersSchoolgirls and female teachers are being sexually exploited by AI deepfakes every week, yet education unions say adequate legal protections still do not exist.The West Australian · 22 Oct, 00:38

In this story: Australian Education Union · Independent Education Union · Nicole Calnan · Brad Hayes · Australia · Melbourne

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem