Deepfake abuse leaves Fiji teen too scared to return to school as rights commission urges urgent action

AI-Driven Abuse Is Forcing Students Out of School. Here's How Educators Can Respond

AI-generated abuse against children is surfacing as a real threat. In Fiji, the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is handling a case of a 15-year-old girl who won't return to school after fake images of her were created and spread online.

The Commission says this is technology-facilitated violence-harm delivered through digital tools. Victims often feel scared, ashamed, and isolated, which keeps them from reporting or seeking help.

Commissioner Chantelle Khan warns the issue is growing with wider access to smartphones and the internet. "As we go more into technology and advancement and more children are having phones, access to pornographic imaging… this is the stuff that we also need to recognize as happening in our country."

What This Means for Schools

AI image abuse can derail attendance, disrupt learning, and damage mental health. If schools don't act, more students will step away from classes to avoid humiliation and bullying.

Educators are now first responders. You need clear reporting pathways, fast support, and consistent follow-through-just like you would for any serious safeguarding case.

Immediate Steps You Can Take This Week

• Set a confidential reporting channel: A simple intake form or dedicated email monitored by trained staff. Make it visible in classrooms, portals, and assemblies.
• Name a single point of contact: One trained lead (plus a backup) to coordinate response, document actions, and update families.
• Brief your staff: 20-minute session on what AI-generated abuse looks like, how to respond, and what not to do (don't share images, don't ask the student to "prove" anything).
• Align with local authorities: Know who to call for legal advice, digital evidence handling, and takedown requests.

Policy Essentials to Add or Update

• Image-based abuse clause: Explicitly prohibit creation, possession, or sharing of sexually explicit or fake sexualized content of minors, with clear consequences.
• Evidence and takedown protocol: How to collect screenshots/URLs, preserve metadata, and file removal requests with platforms.
• Device and network rules: Update phone use, hotspots, and BYOD expectations; include escalation steps for misuse.
• Duty of care and mental health: Guarantee timely counseling, academic accommodations, and safety planning for affected students.

Teach Digital Citizenship with Specifics

• AI literacy: Show students how realistic deepfakes can be-and that sharing "as a joke" still causes harm.
• Consent and bystander action: Don't forward. Report immediately. Support the target, not the rumor.
• Reputation repair: How to request removals, push down harmful content, and document abuse.

Responding to a Case: A Simple Playbook

• Stabilize the student: Private, calm space; validate without judgment; offer immediate counseling and a trusted adult contact.
• Document safely: Save links, timestamps, usernames, and screenshots. Do not store or circulate illegal imagery.
• Move fast on containment: File platform takedowns, inform relevant staff to monitor, and address peer behavior quickly.
• Coordinate with guardians and authorities: Keep communication clear and factual; agree on next steps and safety measures.
• Support re-entry: Flexible attendance, adjusted workload, and a plan to prevent further harm.

Tools, Partners, and Guidance

• Interpol: Online sexual exploitation of children - overview of threats and reporting links.
• UNICEF/ITU Child Online Protection Guidelines - practical frameworks for schools, policymakers, and industry.

Staff Training and Upskilling

Your team needs baseline AI literacy to spot risks, respond correctly, and talk to students with confidence. Short, focused training goes a long way.

• Run termly refreshers on reporting, evidence handling, and mental health first aid.
• Offer optional upskilling on AI tools and safety practices for teachers and counselors. If helpful, explore curated options by job role here: Complete AI Training - Courses by Job.

Set the Tone: Safety First, Shame Nowhere

Victims often feel scared and ashamed. Make it clear: they are not at fault, and the school will act quickly and discreetly.

The risks are growing with more device access and easier image tools. Awareness, clear procedures, and steady support can keep students in school and out of harm's way.