From MovieStarPlanet to CSAM

When I was 12, my idea of "online danger" was losing access to my MovieStarPlanet account – an online game where you could design avatars, make movies, and talk to other players. Back then, the rules felt simple: don't share your password, and definitely don't trust strangers promising free ‘VIP' access. But in 2025, things are no longer that simple. Now, as a second-year university student in Europe, I'm part of the first generation navigating student life alongside artificial intelligence (AI). As overwhelming as it is for me, I can only imagine how petrifying it must be for younger children whose entire childhoods are being shaped by this new digital reality.

Today, "online danger" means something far more insidious: AI programs that can credibly mimic our voices, faces, and gestures to generate persuasive and harmful fake content. These tools make it harder to tell what's real online, and that puts everyone's privacy and safety at risk.

Deepfake bullying has become the next wave of online harassment. For kids and teenagers still figuring out who they are, the psychological toll can be immediate and, in some cases, irreversible. Non-consensual deepfakes, used as a means of intimidation or ridicule, can tarnish a young person's reputation before they've even had the opportunity to define who they are. Even more alarming is the rise of deepfake child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which is increasingly being weaponised not only by criminal networks but also within peer groups. Research shows that victims of CSAM often experience intense shame, isolation, and self-blame; this sometimes leads to self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

That's why Denmark's new proposal to empower individuals to demand the removal of deepfakes of themselves from social media platforms has captured global attention. Denmark's approach marks a shift in how we understand "online dangers." We're no longer just protecting passwords; we're protecting our very identity. And it raises urgent questions. What's left of our autonomy when our face, voice, and personality can be copied in milliseconds? Do we need copyright laws to defend our humanity? Should AI systems capable of generating nonconsensual deepfakes be off limits entirely?

While many AI regulation conversations focus on introducing new protections, a critical question remains: who is actually able to use them? Access to cybersecurity tools, reporting systems, and digital literacy is far from equal. As AI systems become more widespread and unavoidable, the people most at risk are often those least equipped to defend themselves. Denmark's proposal still puts the burden on individuals. It assumes they have the time, resources, and emotional capacity to navigate complex reporting mechanisms or legal processes. Any meaningful regulation must address these digital divides.

Even with promise, Denmark's proposal faces real challenges. Enforcement will be difficult, especially given that most deepfakes are created using open-source tools, across borders, and on platforms with limited oversight. Denmark plans to use its upcoming EU Council presidency to advance this framework across Europe. If successful, it could set a new pan-European standard for digital identity protection. But without international cooperation, such protections will fall short. In the United States, where AI-fueled scams, deepfakes, and identity fraud are rampant, regulation remains minimal. The "Take It Down" Act is a step in the right direction, but outside of that, there are no other clear federal protections in the U.S., leaving states to spearhead safety efforts. As AI becomes more embedded in our lives, safeguarding personal identity must move from being optional or reactive to a global legal standard.

Finally, we must ask: how did we get from MovieStarPlanet to deepfake CSAM? My hypothesis is that the near-total immunity social media companies globally benefit from, primarily due to laws like the United States' Section 230. No other sector enjoys such sweeping impunity. Denmark's proposal is a small but necessary step toward a safer internet, but real progress requires lawmakers to close the legal gaps that let these companies escape responsibility for the harmful systems they build and deploy.

Teens can't fix the internet, but they can take small steps to protect themselves. Use strong privacy settings and talk to someone you trust if something feels off. The days of "if you don't want it shared, don't take it" are long gone. We deserve better protections, and we have every right to demand forward-looking, preventive measures to address AI's most dangerous capabilities.