From keeping in touch with friends and family to accessing learning resources and discovering new ideas, the internet creates incredible opportunities to connect, learn and grow.
As technology continues to develop, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), it's important to recognise both its benefits and its risks. This International Internet Day, we're celebrating the opportunities of the digital world while encouraging everyone to use it safely, respectfully and responsibly.
When seeing isn't believing: can you spot AI?
AI can now generate incredibly realistic images, videos and audio. While AI has many positive uses, it can also spread misinformation, impersonate people and damage reputations. Deepfakes use AI to manipulate or create content that makes people appear to say or do things that never happened.
Before trusting or sharing something online, consider its source, check whether it can be verified and remember that not everything you see is real.
Think you can tell the difference between a real photograph and an AI-generated image? Follow this link to take our quiz!
Intimate image abuse: Consent matters online too
Intimate image abuse includes sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images without consent, as well as creating or distributing sexual deepfakes using someone's image.
Just because technology makes something possible, it doesn't mean it’s acceptable. Never create or share intimate images of someone without their consent and never forward content that may have been shared without permission. Remember, creating non-consensual, explicit content is illegal.
Ways to stay safe online
- Check before trusting: Be alert to fake accounts, manipulated images and misleading information.
- Secure your accounts: Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.
- Respect digital boundaries: Consider what you're sharing and who might see it. Ask before sharing other people's images or videos and respect their consent.
- Use AI responsibly: Follow the university’s guidance on AI use in assessments and make sure your work reflects your own learning.
- Report harmful content: Seek support if something online makes you feel unsafe. If you experience or witness image abuse, or any other harmful content, you can make a disclosure to the University’s Report + Support service.