Child Focus launched an awareness campaign as part of Safer Internet Day to draw attention to a growing phenomenon: deep nudes. These are realistic but partially or completely faked nude images or videos of a person, created by artificial intelligence (AI). 12.8 per cent of Belgian youth are familiar with deep nude apps, and 60.5 per cent of them have already tried to make a deep nude themselves (1). Deepnude technology makes it possible to digitally undress people without their knowledge. Clothing removed from the body becomes unbearable for the victim. Child Focus launched a symbolic sale of these clothes through Vinted to raise awareness among young people about the mental impact on victims.

On Safer Internet Day, Child Focus published a campaign video in Dutch and French on all their social media channels. The videos gained over 105 thousand views on Instagram. The campaign also received a lot of media and press attention. Nel Broothaerts, the CEO of Child Focus, did four radio and two television interviews. Five media houses published an article in the newspaper, and 14 media houses published an article online. 

The unwearable wardrobe

The mental consequences and impact for victims of forwarded deep nudes are similar to other forms of digital sexual violence, such as the distribution of real nude images without consent. Being a victim of digital sexual violence can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, depression, loss of self-confidence and dark thoughts.

Deepnudes thus cause unbearable suffering. Similarly, clothing removed from the body, unasked for, by deep nudes, becomes unbearable for the victim. Child Focus opened an online wardrobe of such clothing through Vinted. These pieces had a symbolic price tag, they did not serve to be sold, but to tell the story of victims. Through this campaign, the organisation wanted to make young people aware of the devastating emotional consequences of making and spreading deep nudes.

“The image was fake: an innocent picture of myself wearing this sweater was edited with AI. Still, it felt incredibly dirty and humiliating. And I completely panicked when I heard it had been shared in a chat group. I felt powerless and didn't dare talk to anyone about it. Out of fear especially. That they wouldn't believe me, or would judge me.” Emma, victim of deepnudes.

Illegal trend

Child Focus is opening more and more cases where artificial intelligence plays a role. The organisation received more than 20 reports of deep nudes, whether or not linked to sextortion, in one year. Child Focus treats such files in the same way as other cases of sexual exploitation and, as a trusted flagger, can call on direct contacts with the main social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, X, TikTok, Discord and Snapchat to take these images offline more quickly.

According to a recent study conducted by the University of Antwerp in collaboration with Child Focus, it appears that 41.9 per cent of Belgian youth (15 to 25 years old) have already heard of deep nudes, and 13.8 per cent have received one at some point ⁽¹⁾. Making deep nudes of minors, however, is punishable by law.

“Our organisation notices that deepnudes have a huge impact on victims. Perpetrators and people spreading these images need to be made aware of the emotional impact of such an image. Victims must also be better protected online through appropriate regulation.” Nel Broothaerts, CEO of Child Focus.  

Deepnude apps are omnipresent. Child Focus advocates for the regulation of such apps, search engines and social media. The industry needs to take responsibility by developing policies and measures to limit the spread of deep nudes and by banning advertising for deep nude apps on their platforms.

View the campaign website here.
(1): Read the study here.

Learn more about Safer Internet Day activities in Belgium on their SID page on our platform!

Further information about the Belgian Safer Internet Centre can be found on the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) public portal, including links to its national websites and other contact information. Similar information can be found on the BIK portal for all Safer Internet Centres in Europe.