The distribution of deepfake pornography is emerging as “the next sexual violence epidemic” impacting schools, according to Laura Bates, author of a book addressing online misogyny, who spoke to MPs.
During her appearance before the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC), Bates emphasized the crucial need for statutory guidelines to assist teachers in managing this “highly significant issue”.
In her investigations across the UK, she noted that schools have spent considerable amounts on PR firms focusing solely on reputation management rather than supporting the affected students.
However, she lamented that there has been “no action taken” regarding support for girls or consequences for those responsible.
Bates remarked on the prevalence of deepfake pornography: “It’s occurring, it’s significant, and its impact on female teachers often goes unnoticed. Schools are ill-prepared to address it.”
“I would propose this is the next major sexual violence epidemic in schools, and many are unaware of its occurrence.”
Deepfakes consist of images, videos, or audio clips created through Artificial Intelligence (AI) that mimic real content.
While producing or sharing sexually explicit images of minors, including deepfakes, is illegal, the technology used to create them remains permissible.
Laura Bates prior to the Women and Equalities Committee
When asked what further measures could be taken to assist schools in addressing this matter, Bates highlighted that “police investigations are still ongoing” in the cases she is familiar with.
Nonetheless, she insisted that criminalizing underage boys is not the solution; instead, she advocated for education, prevention, and regulation.
“It shouldn’t occur that a 12-year-old boy can easily access tools to create this type of content,” she stated.
Bates, who founded the Everyday Sexism project, is also the author of “The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny.”
She called for “explicit guidance” on how schools can effectively respond to this challenge.
Bates cautioned against repeating past failures in handling intimate image abuse, where girls have been “coerced into sending images” only to be punished for sharing them, while the individual spreading the images was not held accountable.
Calls for ‘nudifying apps’ ban
A government spokesperson informed Sky News: “We are reviewing the relationships, sex, and health curriculum to address modern challenges faced by children, including deepfake pornography, ensuring children learn to build healthy relationships in an age-appropriate manner.”
This conversation comes as MPs and experts express heightened concerns about online safety for children, with increasing calls for the government to enhance regulations on major tech companies.
Read More:
Ofcom outlines new practices to safeguard children online
Can Adolescence change the rise of the ‘manosphere’?
A report released in April by the Children’s Commissioner for England revealed that nudifying apps disproportionately target girls and young women, with many designed exclusively for female body types.
Dame Rachel de Souza, the commissioner, urged an immediate ban on AI-driven apps that generate naked images of minors, declaring that “there is no justifiable reason for these to exist.”
Inquiry into the ‘manosphere’
Bates participated in the WEC session as part of their inquiry into how the “manosphere” and other online content contribute to the rise of misogyny.
The cross-party group has previously noted that the increase in misogyny among young men affects not only female students but also female teachers, with incidents of sexual harassment against staff described as “widespread”.
In the same session, the committee also voiced concerns regarding the growing “sex tech industry,” including robotics and AI companions, fearing this may influence societal attitudes towards women and girls.
Stay updated with all the latest news from the UK and worldwide by following Sky News
Tap here
Sarah Owen, the Labour chair of the WEC, told Sky News she could not predict what recommendations would be submitted to the government.
However, she highlighted significant concerns regarding the online radicalization of young men, stating: “Though the room was extremely warm, my blood ran cold hearing the testimonies.”