Key Takeaways
- St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls is removing identifiable images of students from its social media platforms to protect their privacy and digital wellbeing
- The move is a preventative measure to avoid the potential creation of deepfakes using student images
- The school will use alternative images, such as side profiles, silhouettes, and stock photography, on its social media platforms
- Parents will still be able to access photos of their children through a password-protected gallery
- The decision is part of a broader effort to protect students from the risks associated with artificial intelligence and photo manipulation
Introduction to the Issue
The rise of artificial intelligence and photo manipulation technology has created new risks for young people, particularly in the context of social media. St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, a prestigious private school in Perth, has taken a proactive approach to addressing these concerns by announcing that it will remove all identifiable images of its students from its social media platforms. This decision is aimed at protecting the privacy, dignity, and digital wellbeing of its students, and is a response to the growing threat of deepfakes and other forms of online manipulation.
The Risks of Deepfakes
Deepfakes are a type of artificial intelligence-powered technology that allows users to create realistic but fake images and videos. These can be used to create convincing but false representations of individuals, and can be used for a variety of malicious purposes, including harassment, bullying, and exploitation. The risk of deepfakes is particularly high for young people, who may not have the same level of awareness or understanding of online risks as adults. By removing identifiable images of its students from social media, St Hilda’s is taking a proactive step to reduce the risk of its students being targeted by deepfakes or other forms of online manipulation.
The School’s Response
St Hilda’s decision to remove identifiable images of its students from social media is a preventative measure, rather than a response to a specific incident. The school has confirmed that it is not aware of any student images being used or altered via artificial intelligence, but is taking steps to protect its students from potential risks. The school will instead use alternative images, such as side profiles, silhouettes, and stock photography, on its social media platforms. This approach will help to protect the privacy and dignity of its students, while still allowing the school to share information and updates with its community.
Parent Access to Photos
While the school will no longer be sharing identifiable images of its students on social media, parents will still be able to access photos of their children through a password-protected gallery. This will allow parents to stay up-to-date with their child’s activities and achievements, while also ensuring that the images are not publicly available and at risk of being manipulated or shared inappropriately. The use of a password-protected gallery will provide an additional layer of security and protection for the students, and will help to ensure that their images are only shared with authorized individuals.
Broader Implications
The decision by St Hilda’s to remove identifiable images of its students from social media is part of a broader effort to protect students from the risks associated with artificial intelligence and photo manipulation. The school’s approach is consistent with the new social media ban for under-16s, which aims to reduce the risks associated with social media use among young people. By taking a proactive and preventative approach to protecting its students, St Hilda’s is setting an example for other schools and organizations to follow. The decision also highlights the need for ongoing education and awareness-raising about the risks associated with artificial intelligence and photo manipulation, and the importance of protecting the privacy and dignity of young people in the online environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the decision by St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls to remove identifiable images of its students from social media is a proactive and responsible approach to protecting the privacy and digital wellbeing of its students. The school’s use of alternative images and password-protected galleries will help to reduce the risk of deepfakes and other forms of online manipulation, and will provide an additional layer of security and protection for its students. As the use of artificial intelligence and photo manipulation technology continues to evolve, it is likely that other schools and organizations will follow St Hilda’s lead and take steps to protect the privacy and dignity of young people in the online environment.
