Teens exploited by fake nudes illustrate threat of unregulated Artificial Intelligence

Axios, November 3, 2023

A phone, a few photos, and artificial intelligence have stirred controversy and shattered the privacy of several teens at a New Jersey high school after they learned that nude images of them – created via AI – were circulated in group chats. This incident is a poignant example of the threats that come with the unregulated and expanding artificial intelligence access. This is an issue that all school districts are grappling with as the omnipresence of technology — including artificial intelligence — impacts students’ lives. Given the ease of use and access to AI, this will certainly not be the last incident of this nature reported.

A Meta engineer saw his own child face harassment on Instagram. Now, he’s testifying before Congress

AP News, November 7, 2023

“I appear before you today as a dad with firsthand experience of a child who received unwanted sexual advances on Instagram,” Arturo Béjar told a panel of U.S. senators. He is known for his expertise on curbing online harassment and used his position at Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to recount his own daughter’s troubling experiences with Instagram to Mark Zuckerberg. “I can safely say that Meta’s executives knew the harm that teenagers were experiencing, that there were things that they could do that are very doable and that they chose not to do them,” Béjar told The Associated Press. This, he said, makes it clear that “we can’t trust them with our children.”

Omegle Shuts Down as Founder Acknowledges Crime on Video Chat Site

The New York Times, November 9, 2023

Omegle, the popular website and app that paired random users through video chat, has shut down after its founder acknowledged persistent criminal activity and critics said that it had become a haven for pedophilia and child sexual abuse. In the past, we have often made parents aware of the dangers associated with this site. The end of Omegle comes as lawmakers and law enforcement agencies continue to examine the role of technology and social media in the explosion of online child sex abuse in recent years.

Opinion: Schools should ban smartphones. Parents should help.

Washington Post, November 25, 2023

We hear every day from individual schools and school districts that are trying to crack down on smartphones. Some schools have  required their students to store the devices in backpacks or lockers during classes, or to place them in magnetic locking pouches. In 2024, these efforts should go even further: Impose an outright ban on bringing cellphones to school, which parents should welcome and support. In educational settings, smartphones have an almost entirely negative impact: Educators and students alike note they can fuel cyberbullying and stifle meaningful in-person interaction.

Cyber Safety: Shop smarter by avoiding online scams

ABC57 News, November 27, 2023

It is easy to feel confident thinking it would never happen to you, but the reality is that with over $2.7 billion lost in online scams just between 2021-2023, everyone is at risk of falling victim to scams. Online scams are becoming more difficult to spot as scammers use new technology to their advantage. Learning about current scams is always a great reminder as the holiday season approaches.