Using AI Safely & Honestly

🎭 Deepfakes

AI can now make fake videos, photos and voices that look and sound real; these are called deepfakes. They can show a leader saying something they never said, or put someone's face in a photo they were never in. Be extra careful with shocking clips, especially around elections.

📞 Voice-clone scams

Scammers can copy a voice from a short recording. A caller who sounds exactly like a relative may say they're in trouble and need M-Pesa urgently. Hang up and call the person back on the number you know, or ask a question only they could answer. Never send money because of a voice alone.

🔍 Check before you share

Before believing or forwarding something: Who posted it first? Do trusted news sources report it? Does the image have odd details, like strange hands, blurry text or mismatched shadows? If you can't confirm it, don't share it. Spreading fakes can hurt real people.

🔒 Protect your privacy

Anything you type or upload into an AI app may be stored by the company. Never share passwords, PINs, your ID number, your address, or photos of other people without permission. Kenya's Data Protection Act (2019) gives you rights over your personal data, but the safest data is the data you never share.

🧭 Honest, healthy use

Use AI to help you learn, not to pretend its work is yours. Follow your school's rules, and say when you used AI. Remember that running AI uses a lot of electricity and water in data centres, so use it when it really helps. And AI is a tool: for worries and feelings, talk to people you trust.

Key points

• Deepfakes are AI-made videos, photos or voices that look real.
• A cloned voice can sound exactly like a relative asking for money.
• Hang up and call back on a number you know.
• Check who posted something, and whether trusted sources report it, before sharing.
• Never give an AI app your passwords, PIN, ID number or address.
• Use AI to learn, follow school rules, and say when you used it.
• For worries and feelings, talk to people you trust.

Try it for real: Stay safe with AI

• Make a short "AI safety card" for your family: three warning signs of a voice-clone or deepfake scam, and what to do.
• Find out whether your school has rules about using AI for homework, and write them down.