A teenage boy has been arrested after using AI deepfake technology to create deepfake nude images of up to 50 female classmates.
As reported by News.com.au, dozens of female students at an elite school in Victoria, Australia, were targeted by the individual and had the images shared among classmates online.
Police are now investigating the disturbing events, which saw the teen boy allegedly create fake AI explicit images and videos of girls from the 9th to 12th grades of Bacchus Marsh Grammar School.
Principal Andrew Neal says the boy used photos of the girls that had been posted to social media in order to create the fake images and videos.
These images and videos were then shared on Snapchat and Instagram, per 10 News First.
Acting Principal Kevin Richardson informed parents and the school community that staff were made aware of the images and videos on Monday (June 10), stating in an email: "On behalf of the persons and families affected, Bacchus March Grammer is taking this matter very seriously and has contacted Victoria Police."
Parents and staff at the school have been asked not to speak publicly on the matter.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has since responded to the uproar, saying that women and girls deserve more respect than this misogynistic treatment.
“My thoughts are with the young women of Bacchus Marsh Grammar and their families - there is no place for this disgraceful and misogynistic conduct in Victoria," Allan said.
"Women and girls deserve respect in class, online and everywhere else in our community, which is why we have made laws against this behaviour and we are teaching respectful relationships in schools to stop violence before it starts."
The boy has since been released pending further details.
In Victoria, it is illegal to not only create explicit images that are contrary to community standards, but it is another offense to circulate them.
Victoria police have said in a statement: “Officers have been told a number images were sent to a person in the Melton area via an online platform on Friday, 7 June. Police have arrested a teenager in relation to explicit images being circulated online. He was released pending further inquiries."
This comes after Taylor Swift made headlines around the world after she become one of the most high-profile celebrities to be targeted with deepfake AI images, which were widely shared on X earlier this year.
Additionally, a male Melbourne student was expelled earlier this month after creating fake explicit images of a female teacher.
After learning of the 15-year-old's actions in that instance, one parent described AI as "evil", per the Daily Mail.
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