More than one-fifth of homeroom teachers opt out of graduation albums due to deepfake concerns. gettyimagesbank
A recent survey revealed that more than 90 percent of teachers in South Korea fear their photos in school graduation albums could be misused for deepfake crimes. Nearly 70 percent of respondents suggested that schools should stop producing graduation albums altogether.
The survey, conducted by the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA) from Sept. 30 to Oct. 9, polled 3,537 teachers nationwide.
It found that 93.1 percent of teachers are concerned about deepfake crimes, photo manipulation and violations of portrait rights using their graduation album photos. The KFTA noted that while schools continue to create graduation albums as meaningful keepsakes, concerns among teachers were escalating.
The number of teachers including their photos in these albums has been steadily decreasing. According to the survey, 72.5 percent of respondents said fewer teachers are opting to include their photos.
Among homeroom teachers, 20.4 percent are choosing not to participate.
Students are also growing cautious, with 45.5 percent of teachers reporting an increase in students requesting their photos be excluded from graduation albums.
Nearly half (49.8 percent) of respondents believe only those who wish to be included should appear in the albums, while 38.7 percent think no teachers' photos should be included at all.
Furthermore, 67.2 percent of respondents felt that graduation albums should no longer be produced.
A growing number of students are requesting to exclude their photos from graduation albums. gettyimagesbank
The KFTA expressed concern over the growing fear of deepfake-related crimes, lamenting that the disappearance of teacher-student photos from graduation albums reflects this unfortunate reality.
The association warned that with advancing technology, deepfake crimes and their impact could become even more widespread in the future.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.