Students outpace others in AI use, but voice the strongest concerns over fraud and data misuse
Jumio, the leader in AI-powered identity intelligence anchored in biometric authentication, automation and data-driven insights, today released new findings from its 2025 Online Identity Study. As students head back to school and engage with more digital platforms than ever, new data spotlights a pivotal shift: today’s most tech-savvy demographic is sounding the alarm on digital identity protection as AI-generated scams surge.
The study reveals students globally are both early adopters of generative AI, with 70% using AI to create or modify images, and the group most exposed to its risks. Currently, 62% of students are confident in their ability to spot a deepfake, with 70% revealing that they’ve seen one in the last 6 months. Students bring unique awareness to the threats AI fraud presents, compared to respondents reporting a different occupational status. They’re also more likely to have second-hand experience with fraud, as 41% of students know someone who has been a victim of online fraud.
With that awareness comes expectation: students are pushing institutions — from banks to schools — to advance identity intelligence measures and safeguard their data.
Higher Education: An Opportunity to Lead on Trust
The study reveals that 38% of students feel safer using biometric verification instead of passwords for online accounts — more than any other occupational demographic.
For colleges and universities, this presents a clear opportunity. With students more open to biometric verification and already exposed to the dangers of deepfakes and synthetic identities, integrating modern identity verification tools can stop fraud, including the multi-million-dollar challenge of ghost student scams, and build long-term trust.
“Students understand both the power and the risks of AI, which makes them far more open to new safeguards like biometric verification,” said Bala Kumar, chief product and technology officer at Jumio. “For colleges and universities, this is a rare chance to lead with privacy-first identity intelligence, not only protecting against AI-driven fraud, but also meeting the expectations of a generation ready to embrace stronger protections.”
Implications for the Enterprise
Students are setting the tone for broader digital trust standards, and are clear about their protection standards and who they expect to take responsibility for fraud prevention:
- 42% of students would trust their bank more if it used biometric identity verification instead of passwords.
- 40% of students believe the responsibility for stopping AI-powered fraud lies with government agencies, more so than big tech (38%) or individual platforms.
- 24% of students cited organizations’ misuse or sale of identity data as their biggest concern around online identity verification.
“As digital identity verification becomes more sophisticated, so must our commitment to privacy,” said Joe Kaufmann, global head of privacy at Jumio. “Enterprises that want to earn and keep the trust of students must adopt technologies that prioritize data protection by design and ensure ethical use of AI from the start.”