A police investigation into artificial intelligence (AI)-generated explicit images featuring female students from Bacchus Marsh Grammar in Victoria is underway, with one teenage male already arrested and released pending further enquires.
The graphic images featuring the faces of around 50 female students, in years nine to 12, were shared on social media platforms, including Snapchat and Instagram.
Bacchus Marsh Grammar’s acting principal Kevin Richardson, said the college became aware of the image production and distribution on Monday this week.
“On behalf of the persons and families affected, Bacchus Marsh Grammar is taking this matter very seriously and we have contacted Victoria Police,” Mr Richardson said.
“The well-being of our students and their families is paramount.”
Bacchus Marsh Grammar is an independent college with three campuses in Maddingley, Woodlea and Staughton Vale.
Is misogynistic behaviour on the rise in Australian schools?
The incident follows recent news that a 15-year-old from Salesian College’s Chadstone campus was expelled for using AI to create explicit images of a female teacher.
That school released a statement saying it continued to support the teacher involved.
Two male students from Yarra Valley Grammar were also expelled last month after creating a spreadsheet that featured a sexualised, misogynistic ranking of their female classmates, while Victoria Police were also called to McClelland College in suburban Frankston, where male pupils also used a ranking list to rate their female classmates.
Police investigations are continuing
In the latest Bacchus Marsh Grammar incident, deepfake video also targeted other individuals who are not students at the school.
It is understood that social media photos of the students – including some taken at school formals and posted to Instagram – were manipulated to create the explicit content.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said that police believed that images had been sent to an individual just 13km from one of the school’s campuses.
“Officers have been told a number of images were sent to a person in the Melton area via an online platform on Friday, 7 June,” she said.
“As the investigation remains ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
