Sick perv used AI to make FAKE nudes of me in my bedroom – I’m only 15 & terrified my parents will think they’re real
A TERRIFIED schoolgirl has opened up about how a sick perv used AI to make fake nudes of her in her own bedroom.
The 15-year-old says she's now living in fear that her parents will think the generated photos are real.
The teen said she was so shocked when she discovered what appeared to be nude photos of her - that she knew she'd never taken.
The youngster said the images appeared legitimate - they had her face in them, and looked to be snapped in her room at home.
But she said they had actually been generated using artificial intelligence (AI) using photos from her social media.
The teen was speaking out as organisations have joined forces to try to keep youngsters safe online.
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One 15-year-old girl told counselling service : “A stranger online has made fake nudes of me. It looks so real, it’s my face and my room in the background.
"They must have taken the pictures from my Instagram and edited them.
"I’m so scared they will send them to my parents, the pictures are really convincing, and I don’t think they’d believe me that they’re fake.”
It comes just months after an urgent warning was put out to parents across the glode about AI-generated nudes.
The mocked-up "deepfake" photos of schoolgirls were said to have been shared around schools, sparking outrage.
Mums then joined forces in a support group after girls were blackmailed over images made with artificial intelligence tech.
The victims' ages were believed to be between 11 and 17, the reported.
Police then identified seven suspects they believe helped create and share the "deepfake" photos.
These can be generated using apps which combine a picture of the victim's face with pornography found online.
These latest concerns have been raised among the families of girls at four schools in Spain's western Extremadura region.
The risk children face from unregulated and unsafe AI is already far too high, and their safety and experiences must be at the centre of conversations.
Sir Peter Wanless
One mum Miriam Al Adib took to Instagram to warn other parents, after her "heart skipped a beat" when her 14-year-old daughter showed a "deepfake" picture of herself she'd been sent.
Ms Al Adib, 46, wrote: "If I didn't know my daughter, this photo looks real."
And in a message to the offenders responsible, she said: "You're not aware of the damage you are causing.
"Using images to create this disgusting material and distributing them is a very serious crime."
Meanwhile, UK and US children’s advocacy organisations, the NSPCC and Common Sense Media, have teamed up to try to keep schoolchildren safe online.
NSPCC Chief Executive Sir Peter Wanless said: “As one of the leading voices helping to achieve the Online Safety Act in the UK, we have long acknowledged the need for global collaboration by Governments, civil society and tech firms to drive children’s safety online.
“This cannot be clearer than in AI where a rush to gleam the significant benefits of technology has led to worldwide concerns about the danger it can also pose.
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“The risk children face from unregulated and unsafe AI is already far too high, and their safety and experiences must be at the centre of conversations about its development and regulations.
"This partnership will seek to do that while also empowering young people with digital literacy skills to help them thrive.”
Consider a family ‘tech agreement’
According to Allison, one way to set ground rules with your child is to create a Family Tech Agreement.
"A family tech agreement answers as many questions as possible about internet and device use so boundaries are clear to all family members," she explains.
It’s a good way for the whole family to talk about safe and responsible online behaviours."
To create a family agreement, the internet expert advises discussing topics such as "what rules do we want to include in our agreement?" and "do we know how to use in-app safety features like blocking and reporting?"
Other questions to be considered include: "How long should we spend on our devices?" "what do we do if we see something inappropriate?" and "who can we talk to if we feel uncomfortable with something online?"
Allison notes that this is a starting point and that your family may discuss more topics on internet safety for kids depending on the ages of your child or teens and what devices you use.
Report any harmful content that you see
The internet expert highlights the importance of flagging or reporting all harmful content using social media apps using in-app reporting features.
"For cybercrimes, cyberbullying, or harmful content, use in-app features like to report it," she advises.
Most social media companies have their own safety and privacy policies and will investigate and block content or users."
Allison adds: "Apps geared towards kids, like , have clear guidelines and safety features so that users can block content or contacts and have a safer experience in the app."
Balance safety with independence
Allison comments: "Technical controls can be a useful way to protect your children online but they can’t solve all your problems."
"Children need a certain amount of freedom and privacy to develop healthily."
She goes on to say children need their own free space to learn by trial and error what works and what doesn’t.
";So keep balancing, it’s part of it," the internet expert continues. "Having open and honest conversations with your children can be the best way to balance this safety."
Keep the computer in a common space
Allison says that if possible, keep computers and devices in a common space so you can keep an eye on activity.
"It prevents children from doing things that might be risky," she notes.
"Also, if harmful or inappropriate content appears through messages, you can address it with your child straight away."
Password-protect all accounts and devices
"From phones to computers to apps, put a password on it," says Allison.
"That way, no one without the password can access you or your child’s device."
She adds: "Keep track of passwords by using a password manager."