Susan McLean has spoken out against the recent trend of deepfake explicit images being created of young women, stating that the disrespect towards them is appalling. This issue gained attention when a 15-year-old student from Salesian College in Chadstone was expelled for creating deepfake images of a teacher. This form of bullying, which involves digitally altering images to make it appear someone is doing or saying something that never happened, has been seen in Australian schools since last year. The eSafety office warned schools to update their safety policies to address this issue.
In response to the situation at Bacchus Marsh Grammar, the school issued a statement acknowledging the circulation of video content that includes images of students from the school. The school is taking the matter seriously and addressing the wellbeing of its students and their families. If any Bacchus Marsh Grammar students are found to be behind the creation of the images, appropriate action will be taken. Susan McLean emphasized the role that parents play in preventing their children from causing harm to others, stating that they have a responsibility to ensure their children’s actions do not infringe upon the rights of others.
The federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus recently announced new laws that make it a punishable offense to share digitally altered deepfake pornographic images. Those who create or share these images could face jail terms of up to six or seven years, depending on the circumstances. Dreyfus highlighted the distressing nature of digitally created sexually explicit material, particularly against women and girls. McLean supported these consequences, stating that sharing child abuse images should also be considered a jailable offense.
McLean emphasized the need for accountability and severe consequences for those responsible for creating deepfake explicit images, stating that a mere “slap on the wrist” would not suffice. She expressed concern over the growing trend of targeting young women in this manner and called for actions to be taken to address the issue. The impact of such actions on the victims, especially women and girls, was highlighted as a major concern. The deepfake trend has raised alarm in Australia, with schools being urged to update their safety policies to protect students from such forms of digital abuse.
The issue of deepfake explicit images has gained attention due to recent incidents involving young women, prompting calls for accountability and stronger consequences for those involved. Schools like Bacchus Marsh Grammar are taking steps to address the circulation of such images and support the affected students and their families. The role of parents in preventing their children from engaging in harmful behaviors was emphasized, as well as the need for updated laws to address the creation and sharing of deepfake material. The serious nature of this form of abuse, particularly against women and girls, requires attention and action to prevent further harm.
