eSafety Commissioner Warns Australian Schools Against Posting Photos Online

The eSafety Commissioner has issued a stark warning to Australian schools, urging them to reconsider sharing student and staff photos online amid a rising tide of AI-generated deepfakes. Between January and March 2026, the regulator received over 100 reports of anonymous accounts exploiting school imagery to create harmful content, including sexualized depictions and fabricated stories about educators.

Rise in AI Deepfake Threats

AI tools are increasingly being used to scrape images from school social media and websites, then manipulate them into harmful content. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant highlighted that “almost all” of the 100+ reports involved imagery harvested from school accounts. The threats range from AI-generated dance videos and face swaps to explicit deepfake material, with some cases involving child sexual exploitation.

Inman Grant emphasized the emotional toll on victims, stating, Behind each of these reports are real people – teachers, school staff and students – who are facing humiliation, reputation damage and distress. The commissioner also noted that while Australia has strict laws against non-consensual deepfakes, not all harmful material falls under the Online Safety Act.

Schools Navigate Risk and Community Building

Despite the risks, many schools rely on social media to foster community engagement and promote enrollment. However, experts warn that sharing images of children in uniform is particularly dangerous. UNSW professor Michael Salter stated, Unfortunately, children in uniforms intersects with some of the worst online appetites. Curtin University’s Tama Leaver added that the practice sends a “mixed message” given Australia’s under-16 social media ban.

Some schools have started to limit their online presence, opting to obscure faces in photos or using AI-generated fictional students in advertisements. Others have shifted to password-protected newsletters or printed materials to reduce exposure. However, the challenge remains: how to balance transparency with safety in an era where images can be weaponized.

Parental Consent Dilemmas

Parents are caught in a difficult position, with many feeling pressured to grant broad consent for image use. A parent from a northern beaches primary school explained, At our school, if you want to refuse permission for your child’s image to appear on social media, you also have to refuse permission for them to appear in the school newsletter. This “all-or-nothing” approach has led to families giving consent out of fear of exclusion, rather than genuine comfort with online sharing.

Leaver and Salter both stress the need for ongoing dialogue about image usage. My honest advice is: unfortunately it’s a more complicated world now. We can’t tick a box once in February and hope that it’s all for the best for the rest of the year, Leaver said. The eSafety commissioner also urged schools to review their consent processes and ensure parents understand how images might be used.

Legal and Industry Responses

Australian law mandates that tech companies detect and remove harmful content, with penalties of up to $54.6 million for non-compliance. Inman Grant reiterated that AI and social media companies can face a $54 million fine if they fail to prevent illegal content. Recent actions include blocking “nudifying” apps that generate explicit images, though the commissioner warned that not all harmful material is covered by existing laws.

The NSW Education Department acknowledged the concerns, stating it takes online safety seriously and would consider the eSafety commissioner’s advice. However, the department also emphasized that parents can withdraw consent at any time.

As the threat evolves, schools face a complex balancing act between community engagement and safeguarding students. With AI tools becoming more accessible, the need for vigilance and clear policies has never been more urgent.

smh.com.au reported on the eSafety commissioner’s warning and expert analysis.

nine.com.au detailed the rise in AI deepfake threats and legal consequences for tech companies.

7news.com.au highlighted the specific risks of student and staff images being manipulated for harmful purposes.