Impact of Deepfake Technology on Children: Risks and Consequences

One of today's most pressing issues is the safety of our children in cyberspace. The world of the internet harbours a number of serious threats that can negatively affect children's emotional, social and mental health. This paper focuses on known and emerging technologies of deep forgery. The mechanisms behind deepfake technology, in particular Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN models), were examined, and its harmful effects on children were explored. Serious ethical and moral issues raised by this technology were highlighted through real examples. It was also shown how deepfake technology has been used as a tool for cyberbullying and its psychological, social, and educational consequences were discussed. Finally, awareness-raising initiatives and legal measures are proposed as possible solutions to alleviate these problems.