Scotland youth report deepfakes now a daily reality, urge AI regulation

A Young Scot survey of more than 2,600 people aged 11 to 25 found that 80% of respondents regularly encounter online misinformation and that AI‑generated deepfakes have become a routine part of their digital experience. Almost 70% said they feel anxious about the accuracy of the content they see, and six in ten struggle to distinguish real from fake media, describing a constant need to question everything online.

Respondents called for stronger regulation of artificial intelligence and social‑media platforms, arguing that the burden of verifying information should not fall on individual users. Young Scot trustee Finlay Anderson and chief executive John Loughton said the tide of AI‑driven falsehoods erodes trust in information, harms wellbeing, and requires better digital‑literacy tools and protective safeguards.

The report also highlighted broader concerns among Scottish youth, with four‑fifths citing violence as a major impact and 85% identifying child poverty as a serious national problem, alongside worries about public‑service inequality and NHS pressures.