The Tech Shock podcast – schools and emerging tech: a new era of sexual harassment and abuse?

“We saw that parents identified themselves as the best equipped – also, at the same time, our research found that parents were the least aware of the issue, either of deepfakes in general or non-consensual intimate image sharing. It’s clear that they want to be aware and they would want to be the ones who are helping guide their kids through something like this. It’s just that they don’t have the tools.”

Generative AI tech is becoming more sophisticated and, at the same time, more accessible. A consequence of this is that the ease in which someone can create and share realistic deepfakes involving ‘non-consensual intimate images’ has increased too. 

Unfortunately, classrooms aren’t exempt from this trend. Research from UCL’s Institute of Education also shows that – of young people who have experienced image-based sexual harassment – only 2% reported it to their school. 

In this episode, policy counsel at the Centre for Democracy and Technology, Kristin Woelfel discusses their 2024 report with Vicki, exploring this issue (and possible responses to it) further. 

You can listen to the episode in full, here.