Jersey is facing a disturbing surge in online behaviour ranging from AI-generated deepfakes targeting teachers to thrill-seeking trespassers flaunting their exploits and accounts glorifying shoplifting – with police now monitoring multiple strands of harmful content circulating on TikTok.
Express took a closer look at the different types of profiles…
‘Deep-fakes’
Last week, Express‘s sister publication, the JEP, revealed that a TikTok account showing teachers at Grainville Schools in compromising or humiliating scenarios had been reported to the police earlier this month.
The images, which were all generated through a free AI software app, were viewed more than 20,000 times and shared over 1,000 times.
Some clips involved teachers getting on all-fours and eating dog food, one teacher was holding a gun, and others showed male teachers dancing with the caption “dance if you like little girls” above their heads.
The account – which posed as Grainville School, using their badge, name, and branding it as “official” – was banned from the platform earlier this month.
Education Minister Rob Ward described the clips as “deeply inappropriate” and an “outrageous misuse of Grainville School’s badge and branding”.
He said representatives from his department were working closely with staff from the school.
Deputy Ward added that it “appeared to be an isolated incident”, but the use of AI and deepfake technology was being monitored closely across all schools.
Information Commissioner Paul Vane said the damage of AI-generated content and deepfakes could have “life-changing effects” and that stronger deterrence is needed to tackle the growing problem.
And tech entrepreneur Gus Fraser explained that AI is a “broad term, covering a wide range of different topics” and that when used correctly, it ought to be a powerful tool.
“Not all AI is the same – generating deep fakes is very different from using AI as a study guide,” he said.
“This is a behavioural matter, and it’s about changing behaviour.
“The only way we can do that is through constant reinforcement of the message and further education about responsible use of that kind of technology.”
Jersey Ranking Hauls
An account titled “Jersey Ranking Hauls” was recently removed from TikTok after boasting of collections of items supposedly stolen from local shops.
Some of the videos amassed more than 300,000 views before being taken down.
The States of Jersey Police confirmed they were aware of the so-called “trend” and identified one local account, which was subsequently removed by TikTok.
“At this time, we have not received any further intelligence or located any additional local pages posting similar material,” a spokesperson said.
Police have also been in contact with local retailers, who have not reported any increase in shoplifting or incidents suggesting a pattern linked to the videos.
“All our Police Community Safety Team officers are aware of this report and continue to monitor the situation,” the spokesperson added.
“Any information or concerns shared with us will be assessed and followed up in the usual way.”
Urbex Exploration
Last year, young islanders were found to be filming themselves trespassing in abandoned or closed sites across the island in pursuit of online notoriety.
So-called “urbex” exploration accounts showcase unauthorised visits to recognisable island locations including Amazin Adventure Park, Fort Regent and St Saviour’s Hospital.
At the time, Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan urged parents “to talk to their youngsters about the dangers of entering some of these sites”.
He said: “The sites are closed for a reason, because they’re not safe – and we would encourage people to follow the instructions. If it says no access, it says no access for a reason.”
Chief Inspector Craig Jackson said the police had “received calls about this, particularly in relation to Fort Regent”.
“We are concerned about the safety risks this poses to those involved,” he added.
“While the buildings aren’t ‘abandoned’ they can be structurally unsafe and full of hazards that put the lives of those entering them at risk, not to mention those of the emergency services who will be called if they get into trouble.”
What is being done?
Work is underway to create new legislation aiming to improve online safety for islanders – including giving them more rights over their own image – following a review by the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel which found that online safeguarding procedures in Jersey are weaker than they are in the UK and Europe.
The legislation would require social media platforms to have accessible complaint procedures allowing users to request for “illegal content” to be removed, and the service would be required to respond within 48 hours of making the request.
This includes intimate or sexually explicit images shared without consent, photos taken during vulnerable moments, and images used to bully or ridicule someone.
It also seeks to address online privacy rights, as currently there is a legal “grey area” which has led to distress in previous cases involving intimate images or harassment.
A consultation is currently underway and islanders have until 6 March to submit their views on the proposed legislation. More information can be found at gov.je/consultations.
AI “already being used to harm real people”
The Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner today announced that it has signed a joint statement, along with 60 international data protection authorities, in response to serious concerns about AI systems that generate realistic images and videos depicting identifiable individuals without their knowledge and consent.
Jersey Information Commissioner Paul Vane said: “AI tools that can generate or alter images and video are advancing rapidly.
“When used responsibly they hold tremendous promise. But as recent reporting makes clear, they are already being used to harm real people.
“It is too easy to hide behind a veil of ‘it’ll never happen to us’ and we owe it to our community, and especially our young people, to educate not just how to use AI, but how to use it ethically and safely.”
Following the joint statement, the Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner has joined forces with data protection regulatory counterparts at Guernsey’s Office of the Data Protection Authority and the Isle of Man Information Commissioner to issue a Crown Dependency Data Protection Advisory about Generative AI Image Creation which highlights steps individuals can take to protect themselves.