A prominent religious institution, The Friends’ School in Tasmania, Australia, faced criticism from parents due to the creation and sharing of AI deepfake pornographic content involving their daughters. Tasmania Police confirmed that several girls from the school had their images manipulated using AI technology to produce fake pornographic material. The deepfake technology altered the girls’ faces and bodies to create misleading content. According to reports, 21 victims were identified, and five male students were forced to leave the school after being linked to the creation and distribution of child pornography.
Parents of the affected children disclosed that they were individually informed about the incidents involving their daughters. However, most parents chose not to disclose the abuse to their daughters. Concerned parents shared their experiences, with one mother revealing that she learned about the scandal through her daughter in March. She was later contacted by a school staff member on April 1, who informed her about her daughter’s involvement and suggested not informing the child. Another parent expressed shock upon learning that her daughter’s image was used to create deepfake pornography and echoed the sentiment that most parents opted not to inform their daughters about the situation.
The affected parents reported that the altered images were circulated among boys in a group chat, escalating from clothed images to explicit content. The parents expressed concerns about the lack of support for their daughters after the incidents, leaving them feeling isolated and unsure of how to address the situation at school. One parent highlighted the confusion and shame among the girls, emphasizing the need for support and solidarity in such distressing circumstances.
In response to the situation, Tasmania’s education minister was alerted, and The Friends’ School was referred to the Non-Government School Registrations Board for investigation. The school principal assured that they had promptly addressed the issue in alignment with child safety regulations and provided support to the affected students and families. The school emphasized the importance of ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all students.
Tasmania Police noted that no charges had been filed yet, but the youths involved were being handled according to the Youth Justice Act. A representative from the Victorian Women’s Trust condemned the incident as evidence of a cultural imbalance that undermines the dignity of women and girls. The introduction of new laws in Australia in 2024 to prohibit the sharing of non-consensual deepfake adult pornography reflects the government’s commitment to addressing such offenses.
The Friends’ School has been approached for comments on the matter.