If a Deepfake Happens to You, Tell Someone Right Away

If you are ever the subject of a deepfake or fake AI image — created without your permission — there are real steps to take. The faster you act, the more help is available.

Some examples

• Step 1: Take screenshots of the deepfake (evidence you will need).
• Step 2: Tell a parent, school counselor, or teacher you trust.
• Step 3: Report to the platform where it was shared.
• Step 4: Depending on what happened, police may be involved (especially for sexual deepfakes — they are now illegal in most US states).

Try it!

Talk to a parent: 'If anyone ever made a deepfake of me, what would we do?' Now you both know the plan.

Practice this safely

Try this with a low-stakes example and a trusted adult nearby. The goal is to notice how AI talks about deepfake response, not to let it make the decision for you.

1. 1Ask AI to explain deepfake response in plain language, then underline anything that sounds uncertain or too broad.
2. 2Give it one detail from "If a Deepfake Happens to You, Tell Someone Right Away" and ask for two possible next steps plus one reason each step might be wrong.
3. 3Check reporting against a trusted source, teacher, adult, expert, or original document before you use it.