Multiple Mount Scopus College students targeted in explicit AI photo scandal

A Year 8 student has got away with a warning after allegedly sharing fake, explicit, AI-generated images of female students online.

A male student has left Mount Scopus Memorial College after allegedly sharing fake, explicit, AI-generated images of female students online.

A Year 8 student who circulated doctored explicit images of female Mount Scopus Memorial College students has got away with a warning.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the Box Hill sexual offences and child abuse investigation team interviewed the boy after he sent the inappropriate, fake images to two other people earlier this month.

“Detectives interviewed a boy for the offence of produce intimate image following the alleged dissemination of intimate AI images to two people in the Burwood area in September, 2024,” she said.

“A 14-year-old boy was cautioned over the incident.”

The warning comes after the Herald Sun revealed a male student from Mount Scopus Memorial College in Burwood shared several inappropriate, fake images of current year 7 to 10 students that were generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

It’s understood that multiple female students were targeted, with their images allegedly taken from existing posts on social media.

The school became aware of the doctored images that were shared to social media over the weekend.

In a letter to families, seen by the Herald Sun, principal Dan Sztrajt said the college acted fast upon the discovery of the “incredibly serious” situation.

The school informed Victoria Police (SOCIT unit) and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, and continued to liaise with all relevant authorities.

“We are saddened and deeply dismayed that these images have been generated, shared and seen by a limited number of students,” Mr Sztrajt said.

“We have informed the families of all affected students of the situation and offered them support.

“These highly offensive actions have caused great hurt to many students, their families and friends and run counter to the values and ethos of Mount Scopus.”

Mount Scopus principal Dan Sztrajt said the incident sent shockwaves through the school community.

Mr Sztrajt told the Herald Sun the incident was reported to police on Monday and said the boy was no longer a student at the college.

“This has been absolutely devastating and has sent shockwaves through the school community,” he said.

“Like many of these situations you’re alerted to a single image or situation and then once an investigation takes place … we unfortunately discovered this had impacted a significant number of students.”

Mr Sztrajt said explicit images created by AI should be taken seriously.

“There’s a temptation by some to think that this is not real or the hurt won’t be as significant and what can I say is that it’s simply not the case.

“Children at our school are hurting because of this and it’s had a massive ripple effect across all year levels.

“We continue to offer all students involved and the wider school community counselling support.”

It comes just three months after 50 female students from Bacchus Marsh Grammar had fake graphic images of them shared on social media platforms including Instagram and Snapchat.

The explicit photos were reportedly doctored using AI technology and included the faces of the Year 9 to 12 students without their consent.

Victoria Police issued a 17-year-old boy with a caution in relation to allegedly circulating the explicit images online.

Meanwhile in May, two male students from Yarra Valley Grammar were expelled after creating a cruel and misogynistic spreadsheet assessing their female classmates with terms such as “wifeys”, “cuties”, “mid”, “object”, “get out” and “unrapeable”.

Originally published as Multiple Mount Scopus College students targeted in explicit AI photo scandal