New Jersey High School Under Investigation After Deepfake Nudes of Female Students Circulated by Classmates

New Jersey state senator urges review of deepfake laws as police probe into Westfield High School's student-created artificial intelligence nudes raises broader concerns about the legality and potential harm of such actions amid reports of similar episodes around the world.

Boys at Westfield High School in New Jersey used AI technology to produce and circulate deepfake nude images of their female classmates, causing a community uproar and prompting a police investigation.
The incident highlighted gaps in current laws, with neither federal nor most state laws having clear regulations on deepfake porn. A New Jersey state senator has called for a review of these laws.
Concerns have been raised over the lack of swift action taken by the school, as it's reported that the main perpetrator of the images was still attending school with the victims.
As a result of the incident, many girls have felt humiliated and powerless, prompting a discussion around the damage such actions can have both socially and potentially for future professional, academic opportunities.
The prevalence of pornographic AI-generated content is on the rise globally, with more than 90% of online deepfakes being pornographic according to image-detection firm Sensity AI.