UK school photographers say parents are increasingly using artificial-intelligence tools to strip watermarks from proof images, allowing them to avoid payment and eroding a key revenue stream for both photographers and schools. One studio reported that about a quarter of preview images are screenshotted and processed through AI, causing a noticeable drop in profits. Beyond lost income, AI-safety experts warn that uploading identifiable images of children to third-party tools poses privacy and safeguarding risks, including potential reuse in training datasets and uncertain data retention. Legal specialists note that the practice constitutes copyright infringement, though enforcement can be costly for small businesses. In response, some photographers are testing technical countermeasures such as animated overlays to deter copying. Industry groups are weighing legal action, while academics call for better AI literacy to address a widening gap between consumer convenience and the risks and obligations tied to digital image use.
Related articles:
– Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI)
– U.S. Copyright Office: Artificial Intelligence Initiative
– Student Privacy
– AI Risk Management Framework (RMF) 1.0
