COMMENT | On April 8, a private secondary school in Kulai, Johor released a statement acknowledging complaints regarding a student who was reported to have produced, sold, and distributed artificial intelligence (AI)-generated deepfake images of his female schoolmates and school alumni.

Kulai MP and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching confirmed that 38 individuals have been identified as victims, while the Johor police chief has recorded 29 reports related to this case as of April 15.

Alarmingly, the youngest survivor is reportedly 12 to 13 years old, stressing the urgent need to address the issue of digital safety and online gender-based violence, especially among minors.

What are deepfakes?

According to the United Nations Population Fund, deepfakes, non-consensual sexual imagery created using AI tools, are a form of...