This teen was targeted by deepfake nudes. She hopes new training course will help future victims

At just 14, Elliston Berry faced a harrowing experience when a classmate created and shared a deepfake nude image of her. Unsure of where to seek help or how to remove the damaging images from social media, she vowed to prevent others from enduring the same trauma. Now 16, Berry has collaborated with cybersecurity firm Adaptive Security and Pathos Consulting Group to launch an online training course aimed at educating students, parents, and educators about non-consensual deepfake image abuse. As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly accessible, the proliferation of sexualized deepfakes has emerged as a serious form of harassment. Berry's initiative comes on the heels of criticism faced by Elon Musk's xAI when its AI chatbot Grok was misused to generate sexualized images of women and minors. Research from the non-profit Thorn indicates that one in eight U.S. teens knows someone who has been affected by nude deepfakes, highlighting the urgent need for awareness, especially in light of the Take It Down Act, which criminalizes the sharing of non-consensual explicit images. Reflecting on her experience, Berry shared her disappointment with the lack of understanding among school administrators when she was harassed. "They were more confused than we were," she recounted, emphasizing the need for educational resources. The new curriculum focuses on empowering educators to support victims effectively. The online course, which takes approximately 17 minutes to complete, is designed for middle and high school students, teachers, and parents. It covers essential topics, including how to recognize AI-generated deepfakes, the risks of deepfake sexual abuse, and the dangerous practice of sextortion—where victims are coerced into sharing explicit content and then blackmailed. Notably, the course provides valuable links to support resources from RAINN and details about the legal repercussions under the Take It Down Act, which mandates that platforms remove such images within 48 hours of notification. Berry's own struggle to get her images taken down took nine months, underscoring the challenges victims face. Adaptive Security's CEO, Brian Long, emphasized the importance of this training not only for potential victims but also for potential perpetrators. He stated, "They need to understand that this isn’t a prank. It’s against the law and can be incredibly harmful." The course will be offered free of charge to schools and parents, a vital step in raising awareness. Berry expressed concern for her peers, noting that several girls have encountered similar situations recently, reinforcing her belief in the necessity of education and open dialogue about these issues.