Warning Signs for AI Misuse in Educational Institutions: Preventive Measures and Steps to Take
In the digital age, schools are grappling with a new challenge: the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by predators to target students. A recent report by Qoria reveals that only 44% of schools or districts proactively engage parents in educational nights or share information about AI and explicit content. This lack of awareness among parents, as confirmed by 70.6% of U.S. respondents in the report, is a key barrier.
One of the most concerning issues is the increasing prevalence of children as young as 11-13 years old possessing, requesting, and sharing nude content online, primarily on Snapchat. This alarming behavior has been observed by 67.6% of U.S. respondents.
To combat this issue, schools must adopt a multi-pronged strategy focused on safety, education, and clear policies.
Implementing Robust Safeguards and Policies
Schools should prioritise safety by conducting risk assessments and using only approved, enterprise-grade AI tools consistent with data protection and safeguarding laws. Establishing an AI governance team to create clear ethical guidelines on privacy, equity, transparency, and human oversight helps manage AI risks pragmatically. Regularly reviewing and updating these policies with stakeholder input is critical for ongoing effectiveness.
Integrating AI Exploitation Topics into Internet Safety Curricula
Curricula must explicitly cover AI manipulation risks such as deepfake grooming and synthetic harassment. This builds awareness among students about how predators use AI-generated personas and altered media to deceive or blackmail them.
Training Staff to Recognize and Respond
Educators and staff should receive training to identify signs of digitally altered abuse or grooming, even when no physical harm is evident. This includes recognising behaviour patterns tied to synthetic abuse and knowing reporting protocols.
Engaging Parents and the School Community
Schools must communicate clearly and transparently about AI risks and protections, providing accessible information to parents and caregivers. This fosters trust and encourages vigilance beyond school hours.
Partnering with Expert Organizations and Using Detection Tools
Collaborations with nonprofits specialising in AI-exploitation prevention can give schools access to the latest threat intelligence and technological aids, such as software that flags synthetic nudity or grooming content.
Encouraging Reporting of Deepfake Incidents
Schools should actively report deepfake abuses to authorities to help stem their spread and protect affected students. This coordinates community response and partner support.
Providing Practical Demonstrations and Ongoing Support
Live demos and minimal training on AI safety technologies enhance staff confidence and buy-in, enabling smooth integration into existing security measures without causing privacy concerns.
By combining prevention, awareness, detection, and response measures targeted at students, staff, and parents, schools can build a culture of vigilance and empowerment against AI-enabled harms in the school ecosystem.
It's also important to note that deepfakes can be used to blackmail children with the threat of releasing potentially embarrassing information. Schools can share parental control tools with parents to help them manage their children's online activity and access to content.
Moreover, deepfake technology can be used by students to create fake explicit images of other students and staff. Forming working groups around these topics can also help educate staff and improve their knowledge about AI and its potential dangers.
A strength-based approach to tools like AI among staff can have a positive impact on help-seeking behaviours. Schools should be aware of how predators might use AI to target a victim, gain their trust, fill a need, and manipulate and isolate them.
The Qoria report shows that schools are worried about this issue but don't yet have the resources to respond. Schools should review their filters and monitoring systems to ensure they are appropriate for modern contexts and can pick up on contextual alerts.
With 91.4% of U.S. respondents in the Qoria report expressing concern about online predators using AI to groom students, it's clear that action is needed to protect our children in the digital age.
- To proactively address AI-related risks, schools should establish an AI governance team that creates clear ethical guidelines on privacy, equity, transparency, and human oversight.
- The curriculum needs to explicitly cover AI manipulation risks, such as deepfake grooming and synthetic harassment, to build students' awareness about online predators using AI-generated personas and altered media.
- School educators and staff should receive training to identify signs of digitally altered abuse or grooming, even when no physical harm is evident, and know reporting protocols.
- Schools must communicate with parents about AI risks and protections, offering tools and resources to help them manage their children's online activity and access to explicit content.
