If a Deepfake Happens to You, Tell Someone Right Away

If someone makes a fake video or image of you, tell a grown-up immediately. Do not delete evidence. Help is available.

6 min · Reviewed 2026

The big idea

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.

Ask AI to explain deepfake response in plain language, then underline anything that sounds uncertain or too broad.
Give 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.
Check reporting against a trusted source, teacher, adult, expert, or original document before you use it.

End-of-lesson check

8 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-explorers-ethics-safety-AI-deepfake-tell-someone

What is the main idea of "If a Deepfake Happens to You, Tell Someone Right Away"?
1. If someone makes a fake video or image of you, tell a grown-up immediately. Do not delete evidence. Help is available.
2. Use AI as the final authority for the whole decision
3. Avoid checking the answer once it sounds polished
4. Focus only on speed instead of judgment
Which concept is most central to "If a Deepfake Happens to You, Tell Someone Right Away"?
1. reporting
2. deepfake response
3. evidence
4. unrelated shortcut
Which use of AI fits this topic best?
1. Let the AI decide what matters without your review
2. Use the answer before checking whether it fits the situation
3. Step 1: Take screenshots of the deepfake (evidence you will need).
4. Trust the first answer because it sounds confident
What should a careful learner remember about "The rule"?
1. You are not in trouble. The person who made the deepfake is. Speak up — adults can help.
2. Skip the context so the tool can guess faster
3. Treat the output as private even after sharing it online
4. Use the answer without checking the source
You want to use AI after this lesson. What is the safest next step?
1. Act immediately because the AI answer is written clearly
2. AI cannot make the human values or safety decision for you.
3. Hide uncertainty so the final answer looks cleaner
4. Use private or sensitive details before checking permission
How should AI output about deepfake response be treated?
1. As proof that no other source is needed
2. As a replacement for context, consent, or expert review
3. As a draft or helper output that still needs human judgment and verification
4. As something that becomes correct when it sounds confident
Name one way to verify an AI answer about deepfake response.
Which action would help you apply "If a Deepfake Happens to You, Tell Someone Right Away" responsibly?
1. Use the tool to avoid thinking through the tradeoff
2. Keep going even if the output conflicts with a trusted source
3. Trust the first answer because it sounds confident
4. Step 2: Tell a parent, school counselor, or teacher you trust.

← Back to interactive lesson

Tendril · Explorers · Safety & Governance

If a Deepfake Happens to You, Tell Someone Right Away

If someone makes a fake video or image of you, tell a grown-up immediately. Do not delete evidence. Help is available.

6 min · Reviewed 2026

The big idea

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.

Ask AI to explain deepfake response in plain language, then underline anything that sounds uncertain or too broad.
Give 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.
Check reporting against a trusted source, teacher, adult, expert, or original document before you use it.

End-of-lesson check

8 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-explorers-ethics-safety-AI-deepfake-tell-someone

What is the main idea of "If a Deepfake Happens to You, Tell Someone Right Away"?
1. If someone makes a fake video or image of you, tell a grown-up immediately. Do not delete evidence. Help is available.
2. Use AI as the final authority for the whole decision
3. Avoid checking the answer once it sounds polished
4. Focus only on speed instead of judgment
Which concept is most central to "If a Deepfake Happens to You, Tell Someone Right Away"?
1. reporting
2. deepfake response
3. evidence
4. unrelated shortcut
Which use of AI fits this topic best?
1. Let the AI decide what matters without your review
2. Use the answer before checking whether it fits the situation
3. Step 1: Take screenshots of the deepfake (evidence you will need).
4. Trust the first answer because it sounds confident
What should a careful learner remember about "The rule"?
1. You are not in trouble. The person who made the deepfake is. Speak up — adults can help.
2. Skip the context so the tool can guess faster
3. Treat the output as private even after sharing it online
4. Use the answer without checking the source
You want to use AI after this lesson. What is the safest next step?
1. Act immediately because the AI answer is written clearly
2. AI cannot make the human values or safety decision for you.
3. Hide uncertainty so the final answer looks cleaner
4. Use private or sensitive details before checking permission
How should AI output about deepfake response be treated?
1. As proof that no other source is needed
2. As a replacement for context, consent, or expert review
3. As a draft or helper output that still needs human judgment and verification
4. As something that becomes correct when it sounds confident
Name one way to verify an AI answer about deepfake response.
Which action would help you apply "If a Deepfake Happens to You, Tell Someone Right Away" responsibly?
1. Use the tool to avoid thinking through the tradeoff
2. Keep going even if the output conflicts with a trusted source
3. Trust the first answer because it sounds confident
4. Step 2: Tell a parent, school counselor, or teacher you trust.

← Back to interactive lesson