DES MOINES, Iowa — As students across Iowa return to the classroom this month, Attorney General Brenna Bird is warning parents and schools about the growing threat of deepfake technology being used for bullying and harassment.
Deepfakes are realistic but fake images or videos created with artificial intelligence (AI). Officials say they are increasingly being used to make non-consensual nude or sexually explicit images of students—something that can have devastating and lasting effects.
“Deepfakes used for bullying are not a harmless prank. It’s a criminal act with real consequences,” Bird said. “The start of the school year is a critical time for parents to discuss online safety with their children, but it’s also important to know what to do if your child is the victim of a deepfake. We are committed to protecting Iowa’s kids and holding offenders accountable.”
Creating or sharing sexually explicit deepfake images of another person is illegal in Iowa. If an adult commits the crime, they could be placed on the state’s sex offender registry.
Earlier this year, President Trump signed the “TAKE IT DOWN Act”, making it a federal crime to post or threaten to share non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. Starting next May, social media platforms will be required to remove these images within 48 hours once a victim reports them.
If this happens to you or someone you know, there are resources available. For victims under 18, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offers a “Take It Down” service at takeitdown.ncmec.org.
For adults, a similar resource is available at stopncii.org.
Victims are urged to report incidents to their local law enforcement agency immediately.
