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Teenage Girls Targeted in AI Nude Image Scandal

Herald Sun

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Up to 50 female students at a private Melbourne school have been targeted in AI-generated explicit images. 

Summary

The scandal involving AI-generated explicit images has affected up to 50 female students at Bacchus Marsh Grammar School in Melbourne, raising concerns about the misuse of AI technology for abusive purposes. This incident highlights the potential for AI to contribute to invasive privacy violations, emphasizing the need for stringent regulations and safeguards to prevent such misuse. The involvement of a minor in creating and distributing these images underscores the challenge of controlling access to sophisticated AI tools capable of such harmful applications. While the focus is not on global or existential AI risks, the situation is pertinent to discussions about AI ethics, governance, and the prevention of harm, especially within local contexts.

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Female school students targeted in ‘obscene’ AI-generated fake nude scandalUp to 50 teenage girls have been targeted in a series of explicit AI-generated images, which were circulated online.Alexandra Feiam2 min readJune 12, 2024 - 6:17AMFamily LifeDon't miss out on the headlines from Family Life. Followed categories will be added to My News.Up to 50 female students at a private Melbourne school have been targeted in AI-generated explicit images.Police are investigating after dozens of femalestudentsat Bacchus Marsh Grammar in Melbourne’s west reported fake nude images that began circulating at theschooland shared across Instagram and Snapchat.The parents of the teenagegirls, believed to be between Year 9 and Year 12, were told of the scandal over the weekend.Want to join the family? Sign up to ourKidspot newsletterfor more stories like this.Teenage girls target in “obscene” fake nude scandalIt’s believed the faces of the girls were taken from their personal Instagram profiles, per7News.These images were then manipulated using AI to generate disturbing and explicit photos.RELATED:'Deliberate, dangerous, and disgusting': The dirty school lists need to stopThe school has since confirmed the images circulating, with principal Andrew Neal describing the scene as “obscene.”“It’s appalling. It is something that strikes to the heart of students, particularly girls growing up at this age,” he told theABC.“They should be able to learn and go about their business without this kind of nonsense.”Introducing our new podcast: Mum Club!Listen and subscribewherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.Mr Neal confirmed they were working to get the images removed and track down any and all individuals involved with the incident.“Logic would suggest that the most likely individual is someone at the school … or a group of people from the school, however, the police and the school are not ruling out any other possibility as well,” he said.RELATED:Another Melbourne school under fire after list found ranking female classmatesA teenager was arrested in connection with the explicit images, but Victoria Police confirmed he had since been released.The Instagram account used to share the images has since been deleted.“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,” a spokesperson for Victoria Police confirmed in a statement.“Police have arrested a teenager in relation to explicit images being circulated online. He was released pending further inquiries.”Despite the images not being real, they are still considered child abuse material; those who share sexually explicit digitally-created images without consent may face up to seven years in jail.More CoverageYear 9 boys probed over list ranking girl studentsAlexandra Feiam'Dangerous and disgusting': The school lists need to stopShona HendleyOriginally published asFemale school students targeted in ‘obscene’ AI-generated fake nude scandalMore related storiesFamily LifeWoman’s genius way to be a better mother-in-law“I feel like a number of mothers-in-law that are feeling really confused or dissatisfied by this role … so they end up acting in a way that comes across as desperate or controlling…”Read moreFamily LifeMum’s advice to stop parents from burning out“If only everyone applied this, kids would be lovable!”Read more