Parents have been warned that innocent back-to-school photos could be harvested by online predators to create sexually explicit "deepfakes" and child profiles.
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The Australian Federal Police (AFP) human exploitation commander Helen Schneider said investigators have seen offenders use seemingly minor details, such as a school logo, street sign or even a front door, to build profiles used for grooming.
"The first day of school represents a joyful and significant milestone, so it's only natural parents and guardians want to share the moment with their family and friends, especially those who may live interstate or overseas," Commander Schneider said.
"But the unfortunate reality is that without a little forethought, pictures they post all too innocently can be - and have been - saved, edited and shared by people with malicious intentions."
Commander Schneider said parents can use the built-in editing feature on their smartphone to blur or hide identifiable details before uploading them, rather than relying on social media apps.
"When you edit within a social media app, the original image can be stored, which means the identifiable details you want to hide have been uploaded," Commander Schneider said.
"By performing the edit at the start, you take away the risk of that detail being compromised."
AFP tips for parents for school photos and posts:
- Don't reveal your children's personal details, such as their names, ages and school years.
- Don't reveal details about your children's school through elements such as uniforms, logos or street names.
- Avoid 'checking-in' on social media as that can reveal your location.
- Only share photos with people you know and trust. And make sure you educate them about how, and if, you would be comfortable for them to on-share your material.
- If another person is taking photos of your child, talk to them about how the photos will be used and where they will be shared.
Parents can visit the AFP's ThinkUKnow website for more information on keeping kids safe online.
