Kids and Deepfakes Don't Mix

Tools, resources, and a support network to help states, districts, and schools mitigate and respond to Deepfake incidents.

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Why This 

To successfully carry out their missions, State Departments of Education, Local Education Agencies, and schools need to know how they can protect their communities, staff, and students from the disruptions caused by Deepfakes. 

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Why Now

Deepfakes, whether created using school equipment or personal devices, at home or on campus, can disrupt the entire school community. They spread quickly, damage relationships, harm school culture, and negatively affect youth mental health. Every state needs to issue guidance to support districts and schools. 

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Who This Resource is For

This resource is primarily for State Departments of Education, Local Education Agencies, and schools. Secondarily, it can also be used by researchers as a tool to think about advancing the evidence around the impacts of Deepfakes and how to prevent them. 

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How to Use This Resource

This resource offers State Departments of Education, Local Education Agencies, and schools tools and information that may inform their development of guidance and policies aimed at mitigating and responding to incidents involving Deepfakes.

Explore Our Resources

  • Text reading "Deepfakes Research Agenda" and "Opportunity Labs" on an orange background with circular line patterns.

    A roadmap for studying image-based sexual abuse in K-12, including prevalence, risks, and prevention strategies.

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  • Cover image with text: 'Deepfakes District and School Policy Framework - Opportunity Labs' on a blue background with circular patterns.

    Guidance to help districts and schools update existing policies to address deepfake-related threats.

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  • Cover of "Deepfakes Incident Response Guide for School Leaders" by Opportunity Labs, featuring circular patterns.

    Guidance for school leaders on handling suspected Deepfake incidents involving students.

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  • "Deepfakes Teaching and Learning Library" text with circular pattern design. "Opportunity Labs" at bottom.

    Coming Soon: Detailed evaluations of lessons, programs, and instructional materials to help educators effectively teach about Deepfake technology and its impact.

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  • Cover page with title "Deepfakes Incident Response Guide for Teachers" and "Opportunity Labs" on a light green background with circular line pattern.

    Coming soon: Guidance for teachers on handling suspected Deepfake incidents involving students.

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  • Cover of "Deepfakes Incident Response Guide for Superintendents" by Opportunity Labs with a peach background and circular lines.

    Coming Soon: Guidance for superintendents on handling suspected Deepfake incidents involving students.

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End Deepfakes in K-12 Education Network

This new network unites state departments of education from across the country to develop and share context-specific best practices for districts and schools, ensuring that Deepfake policies and protocols focus on prevention and preparedness rather than crisis response. Members will engage in facilitated, collaborative experiences with a national network of leaders actively working to end Deepfakes, access subject matter expertise, and explore effective strategies that inform policy and practice at the national level. Through this collaboration, we will learn together to create solutions that provide valuable feedback to the federal government—fostering a coordinated, nationwide effort to address Deepfake challenges in K-12 education. To learn more, get in touch.

FAQ

  • Opportunity Labs is a national 501c3 nonprofit organization working to promote youth thriving. 

  • A Deepfake is a digital forgery produced using AI, Generative AI, or other digital technologies to alter, synthesize, or superimpose images, audio, or video in a manner that convincingly simulates real people, actions, or events. Deepfakes often fuel sexual abuse, and harassment.  A Deepfake could also be created, directed, or produced with the consent of the person(s) depicted or portrayed but then distributed, posted, or shared in a manner that recontextualizes them to mislead or deceive by making it appear as though individuals have said or done things that they did not actually say or do.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to systems or machines that mimic human cognitive functions—such as learning, reasoning, or problem-solving—and can iteratively improve their performance based on the data they process. These systems or machines often make predictions or recommendations by analyzing large datasets, using methods like machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing. There are legitimate, appropriate, and expected uses of AI for academic purposes in a school setting; this policy focuses on the non-academic use of AI, and the attendant special considerations for privacy, safety, and ethics.

  • Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) is a subset of AI focused on creating new content—such as text, images, audio, or video—by detecting and reproducing patterns from large datasets. Rather than simply making predictions or classifications, Generative AI tools can produce novel outputs that mirror the style and structure of the data on which they were trained. Examples include language models that generate written content and image-generating tools that produce artwork.

  • Deepfakes pose significant risks to kids, with victims experiencing impacts to their mental health, emotional safety, and physical wellbeing. Existing laws and school policies are insufficient to protect students from the dangers of Deepfakes, leaving them vulnerable to harm. 

  • No. While Deepfake technology can potentially be used creatively or educationally—for example, making engaging learning materials or storytelling—it is frequently misused in ways that can mislead, manipulate, or harm young people.

  • While the technology itself is new, the harms caused by Deepfakes often mirror challenges schools have been addressing for years — such as bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and the spread of harmful content. What’s different is the scale, speed, and realism made possible by AI, which can amplify the damage and make it harder to detect or disprove.

  • No, Generative AI isn’t inherently bad, but like any technology, its misuse can have harmful consequences.

  • Schools can protect students from Deepfakes by updating their existing policies on Acceptable Technology Use, Harassment, Bullying, and Cyberbullying to specifically address Deepfakes and their harmful impacts. This includes educating students, staff, and families on risks of Deepfakes, implementing clear reporting channels, and ensuring that policies reflect on campus and off-campus behavior. 

  • This resource addresses Deepfakes through a comprehensive approach that extends beyond technology. We believe tackling cultural, social, and behavioral aspects is essential to preventing harm. A forthcoming catalogue of educational and social-norming resources will further support these efforts.

  • Social norming plays a crucial role in addressing Deepfakes, moving beyond schools to include other influential community leaders, youth sports organizations and coaches, and religious leaders. By building collective awareness, we can shift societal perceptions and behaviors for a more responsible and informed response to Deepfakes and their impact on kids.

    • a comprehensive Research Agenda to extend the evidence base of  Deepfakes

    • a Framework to amend or create new policies to address Deepfakes

    • an Incident Response Guide that provides district and school leaders–e.g., teachers, school-based health staff, school and district administrators–with a step-by-step set of actions to consider

  • Share your contact information here to stay updated on new resources and opportunities.

In Their Words

  • “Deepfakes are becoming so sophisticated and accessible that any young person can distort reality or fabricate a new one with just a click. As young people manipulate truth for reasons ranging from creativity and curiosity to deception and bullying, the absence of clear cultural norms leaves a dangerous void. Schools must be ready to confront and respond to these complex, high-stakes scenarios with clarity, nuance and care.”

    – Michelle Cuelver, Founder, The Rithim Project

  • "AI is a powerful technology that is transforming our children's lives. With its advancements comes the potential for misuse. As educators, it is our responsibility to teach AI as a tool for progress and to prevent its misuse through education. End Deepfakes is exactly that; a tool for ethical and safer AI."

    – Dorota Mani, Mother, Educator, Advocate

  • “As AI-integrated tools continue to enter our school ecosystems at a rapid pace, it's more important than ever for educators and school leaders to have access to thoughtfully curated AI resources for students. Developing AI literacy and computational skills is essential for preparing students to thrive in a global economy. The resources featured on this website are a meaningful step toward building that foundation of trust. I'm grateful to Opportunity Labs for spearheading this important work.”

    – Kip Glazer, Principal, Mountain View High School

  • "This resource is essential for state and local education agencies. Ending Deepfakes will play a critical role in protecting our children and securing their future—our most valuable asset."

    – Margaret Crespo, Superintendent in Residence at ILO Group, Former Superintendent, Laramie County School District 1, Wyoming

  • “We can’t put the genie back in the bottle—but we can act now to prepare young people for what’s coming. Deepfakes and generative media are already reshaping how we define truth and trust online. This is a critical window to ensure students have the skills and awareness to navigate a world where seeing is no longer believing.”

    – Alex Kotran, Co-Founder and CEO, The AI Education Project (aiEDU)

  • "Deepfake technology represents an unprecedented threat to our children's safety, dignity, and future. By providing robust resources to End Deepfakes, we can shield our most vulnerable from this emerging form of technological abuse."

    – Melissa Hutchins, Founder & CEO, Certifi AI

  • "In just a few years Deepfakes have gone from unheard of to an exploding crisis in our schools. When administrators and teachers are not prepared our students are left vulnerable. We must do better for our children. By utilizing these resources district leaders, administrators, teachers, and educators can both prevent Deepfakes from spreading in their schools and learn how to respond when they do."

    – Adam Billen, Student and Vice President, Encode Justice

Contact Us

For more information about our Network offering, or to stay updated on new resources and opportunities, please fill out the form here.