Wisconsin 13-Year-Old Creates Deepfake Nudes from Bat Mitzvah Photos

In October 2024, a 13-year-old male student in Wisconsin used photos from a female classmate's bat mitzvah (Jewish coming-of-age ceremony) to create deepfake nudes and distributed them via Snapchat. This is not an isolated incident. In recent years, cases of school-age children across the United States using deepfakes to target classmates for pranks or bullying have been recurring.

According to a survey released in September 2025 by the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), 15% of U.S. K-12 (kindergarten through 12th grade) students reported being aware of AI-generated sexual images of their classmates. Female students were significantly more likely to be targets of deepfake sexual depictions than male students. CDT concluded that "the issue of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), whether real or deepfake, is at a serious level in K-12 public schools."

Why This Matters: Generative AI Has Democratized Deepfakes

When deepfakes first appeared online eight years ago, they were difficult to create. However, advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology have made tools for creating deepfakes easily accessible to anyone. Rebecca Delfino, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University and deepfake researcher, noted that "five or six years ago, there probably weren't this many minors among revenge porn perpetrators."

As the technical barrier to entry has lowered, minors have gained easy access to deepfake apps. Professor Delfino explained, "The behavioral patterns exhibited by minors are not significantly different from the cruelty, humiliation, exploitation, and bullying that existed before," adding that "the difference is the use of technology and how easily the results spread."

Non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) abuse leaves mental health damage on victims similar to offline sexual violence. Victims are sometimes forced to cease online activities due to image distribution.

Laws Can't Keep Up: Most State Laws Don't Cover AI-Generated Images

Federal and state governments in the United States have enacted laws to address non-consensual intimate imagery abuse. Currently, all 50 states and Washington D.C. have laws criminalizing the non-consensual distribution of actually photographed images. In August 2025, President Donald Trump signed the federal "Take It Down" Act, a similar measure.

However, unlike the federal law, most state laws do not explicitly apply to AI-generated deepfakes. Moreover, laws specifically addressing cases where perpetrators are minors are even rarer. Professor Delfino pointed out that "policymakers want to punish image-based sexual abuse perpetrators 'swiftly and severely,' but often don't consider the perpetrator's age."

Under current law, minor perpetrators are likely to be treated similarly to minors who commit other crimes. Prosecution is possible, but prosecutors and courts determine sentences taking age into account. The problem is that laws are not keeping pace with technological advancement, and there is a particular lack of legal frameworks that simultaneously address both AI-generated content and minor perpetrators.

Comparison: Legal Response to Actual Photos vs. AI-Generated Images

While legal responses to actual photographs have been somewhat systematized, AI-generated deepfakes remain in a legal blind spot. Law enforcement becomes even more complicated when perpetrators are minors.

[AI Analysis] Future Outlook: Triangular Response of Technology, Education, and Law Needed

Deepfake technology is likely to become more sophisticated and accessible in the future. With the spread of open-source generative AI models and the evolution of mobile apps, the barrier to creation will continue to lower. Responding to this requires parallel efforts in three areas.

First, rapid updates to legal frameworks. While federal law includes AI-generated images, state laws are not keeping pace. Legislative guidance is needed to enable states to add deepfake provisions or broadly interpret existing laws. Additionally, separate treatment standards for minor perpetrators (educational intervention, treatment linkage, etc.) must be established.

Second, digital literacy education in schools and homes. Curricula are needed to help children understand the ethical issues and legal responsibilities surrounding deepfakes. The CDT survey revealed the severity of the problem while also showing room for educational intervention.

Third, strengthening platform accountability. Social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram must enhance AI detection technology and reporting systems to prevent minors from easily creating and sharing deepfakes. App stores also need to strengthen age restrictions and pre-screening for deepfake generation apps.

Image-based sexual abuse remains fundamentally the same regardless of technological changes. The psychological trauma left on victims is no different whether the image is real or AI-synthesized. Whether the next generation's digital environment becomes safer or more dangerous will depend on how seriously and swiftly law and society address this issue.