Artificial intelligence has become a common part of our lives – it helps us translate texts, create images, and organize tasks. However, with its rapid development, new threats have emerged that we could hardly imagine just a few years ago. One of the most serious is the phenomenon known as deep nudes. These are fake nude photographs created by artificial intelligence from ordinary images of people. Unfortunately, this trend does not affect only adults but increasingly also children and adolescents. The psychological impact on victims can be devastating.
Deep nudes are created when an AI algorithm takes an ordinary photo – for example, a profile picture from social media – and in just a few seconds alters it to make the person in the image appear naked. The resulting picture looks realistic, and an untrained eye can hardly recognize that it is a fake. Such images can be shared on social networks, published on pornographic websites, or used as a tool for bullying and blackmail. Imagine a child discovering that classmates are sharing their intimate photo, which is fake but looks real to others. Such an experience can leave deep scars.
While just a few years ago this technology was difficult to access, today there are many online services and mobile applications that make it practically available to anyone. Some are free and only require uploading a photo. Others are paid and offer higher quality and more realistic results. Most of these services are unregulated and often allow anonymous use. This means that even children can easily try these tools, which significantly increases the risk of misuse.
The issue was highlighted by research conducted by Czech experts Kamil Kopecký and Dominik Voráč from the Institute for Research and Education in Digital Technologies and Cybercrime at the Faculty of Education, Palacký University in Olomouc, which was published in 2025 in the journal AI & Society. The study involved 27,336 pupils from primary and secondary schools aged 10 to 18. It was found that 2.77% of respondents had already created a deep nude image of another person. About three quarters of these creators were boys, the remaining quarter were girls. The phenomenon occurs across age groups and types of schools, showing that it is not a marginal issue but a problem affecting a broad spectrum of young people.
The psychological consequences for victims are often severe. Many experience shock and trauma when they find out that someone has created and shared fake intimate images of them. This is followed by shame, a sense of humiliation, and a loss of control over their own body and privacy. The fear that such images will reach peers can lead to long-term anxiety, sleep problems, and even depression. Many victims feel frustration and helplessness because removing these images from the internet is often complicated and sometimes practically impossible. Victims often become socially isolated, withdraw from their peers, suffer a loss of self-esteem, and in some cases may even experience suicidal thoughts.
The deep nudes phenomenon does not affect only ordinary people but also celebrities. An example is the case of singer Taylor Swift, who in 2024 became the target of fake intimate photos created using AI. These images spread on social networks and triggered a wave of mocking and even hateful comments and attacks against her. Although the pictures were fake, they appeared convincing to many. This case shows that if even a world-famous and well-protected celebrity can become a victim, the risk is even greater for ordinary children and adolescents.
From a legal perspective, the creation and distribution of deep nude images is illegal, especially if it depicts children or minors. Such materials are considered a form of child pornography, the production, possession, and distribution of which is a criminal offense in the Czech Republic and can lead to imprisonment. Furthermore, from January 1, 2026, a new criminal offense called “misuse of identity for the production of pornography” will come into effect, enabling the prosecution of individuals who, without the consent of the depicted person, create or distribute pornographic images using their identity – such as deep nudes. This step responds to the development of generative AI and the need to protect victims from this type of abuse.
Parents play a key role in protecting children from deep nudes. Open communication is essential. Children should know that this phenomenon exists and that they can turn to their parents at any time if they become victims or encounter such content. It is important to educate them that creating and sharing such images is illegal and can have serious legal consequences. Parents should also talk to their children about how to protect their privacy online – for example, by setting private profiles on social networks and being cautious about sharing photos.
If an incident occurs, it is necessary to respond quickly. It is advisable to preserve evidence, such as screenshots or links, and report the content to the platform administrators. In more serious cases, it is necessary to contact the police or specialized organizations, such as the E-Bezpečí project, which focuses on helping victims of online attacks and operates an online counseling service. Equally important is psychological support for the child – the victim must know that they are not to blame and that they are not alone.
Deep nudes illustrate how modern technologies can be misused against vulnerable individuals. Protecting children requires joint efforts by parents, schools, and legislators. Schools should have clear procedures for dealing with such cases and promote media literacy among students. Legislators in the Czech Republic and the EU are preparing a legal framework that will make it possible to punish perpetrators and protect victims. Parents, however, remain the first line of defense because they can teach their children to recognize risks and know when to seek help.
The deep nudes phenomenon is not just an online trend. For children, it can mean deep trauma and long-term psychological problems. It is therefore essential to talk about it openly, educate children about its risks, and act quickly and decisively in case of danger. Only in this way can the damage caused by this dangerous product of modern technology be minimized.
Editorial Team of E-Bezpečí
