‘Diabolically bad’: Terrifying threat facing Australian students as graphic pictures rock Melbourne school

A terrifying crime targeting female students has emerged over the last couple of years and it is only expected to get worse as the use of AI rapidly grows.

Australian students are facing the terrifying threat of disturbing fake nude photographs with their faces being circulated online.

Cybersafety expert and former police officer Susan McLean said creating sexually explicit, AI-generated images is now as easy as uploading a clothed photo of someone and choosing a pose for an app to then spit out a pornographic image, and it will only become more of a problem.

Sending real or fake nude images of people under the age of 18 is a crime, but the harsh reality is, “there is nothing any person can do to protect themselves from this,” Ms McLean told news.com.au.

“You have to hope that someone doesn’t choose you to become a victim; you have to hope that the offender doesn’t offend,” she said.

Her comments come as an investigation is underway into the online circulation of sexually explicit, AI-generated pictures of female students at a Melbourne high school.

Fake graphic images can made with a clothed photo and the press of a few buttons thanks to artificial intelligence. Picture: istock

Police became aware on Thursday that formal photos of students at Gladstone Park Secondary College were “inappropriately manipulated using artificial intelligence technology before being released online”. Up to 60 students could be affected.

Detective Sergeant Simon Garner described the images as “quite vulgar”.

news.com.au understands two year 11 students were suspended.

Police confirmed on Friday a 16-year-old boy had been arrested following a search warrant in the Hume area “after a number of sexually explicit, digitally generated images of teenage girls were circulated online”.

The teen was interviewed by detectives but released without charge pending further inquiries.

Last year, AI-generated nude images featuring the faces of at least 50 female students in years 9 to 12 from Bacchus Marsh Grammar were circulated online. A 17-year-old boy was cautioned by police and the investigation closed.

Have you or someone you know been affected by sexually explicit, AI-generated images? Email [e-mail]

It is only going to become more of a problem. Action needs to be taken to change attitudes toward girls and women. Picture: istock

Fighting the emergence of this disturbing modern crime

Ms McLean said instead of trying to fight the apps that create the content, the focus needs to be on educating young men on respectful and lawful behaviour.

That includes being included in comprehensive cybersafety education delivered by experts in schools and parents taking responsibility to instil it into their children at home.

“You have a responsibility to keep your children safe and you have a responsibility to ensure your child is not inflicting harm on someone else,” Ms McLean said.

She believes demonising technology and artificial intelligence is not the answer as there are benefits, but “in the wrong hands it’s diabolically bad”.

“The harm to the victims of this crime type is ongoing, it continues, even if the images have been removed, people know they’ve been caught up in it,” Ms McLean said. “They will go over this in their mind time and time again.”

This particular crime type predominantly affecting female students and teachers can be quite gendered, she said, and it shows “the extensive lack of respect that females have to put up with in society”.

“Victims of this crime need a lot of support and consistent and ongoing support. And it is never their fault whatsoever,” Ms McLean said.

“We’ve got to do something to change the mindset of young men who believe this is a good idea to do.”

It is not just parents and schools, Ms McLean said all sections of society had a role to play, such as sports clubs calling out inappropriate remarks about women and girls in the locker room.

Investigation at Melbourne high school

A Department of Education spokesman warned that “misogynistic and disrespectful behaviour is unacceptable in any Victorian school,” upon the news this week of a police investigation.

“Gladstone Park Secondary College has taken appropriate disciplinary action and wellbeing support has been offered to any students who need it,” the spokesman said.

“Alongside parents, carers and the wider community, schools play a critical role in stamping out disrespectful behaviour – last year we launched updated Respectful Relationships materials to help students navigate misogyny and hate online, embed equality into every school and model respectful behaviours.”

It is understood more than 1950 Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools are signed up to the Victorian Government’s Respectful Relationships initiative.

Schools are expected to report incidents to police if their students are involved.

Up to 60 students at Gladstone Park Secondary College in Melbourne could be affected. Picture: Supplied

‘Quite vulgar’

Detective Sergeant Simon Garner described the fake images of students at the school as “quite vulgar” and that he found it “disturbing” and despicable”.

“I don’t think anyone, whether they be children, whether they be adults, whether they be anybody, no one likes to have their images taken and manipulated in such a way like this,” he said.

“It’s hard to believe these kind of platforms are out there where they get these images and change them the way they do.”

The Sergeant had urged the boys believed to be involved to come forward to assist with their investigation.

“People can sometimes think this is a bit of a joke and they are unaware about the responsibility and the ongoing effects they have for the students and for the people who they’re doing it against could be really long lasting,” he said.

“We’re certainly putting the messages out there to say that these things aren’t acceptable … we’re not happy about it, we’re investigating it, we’re urging people who are thinking about doing these things, or have thought about doing these things to think twice.”

Any students who think their image has been used have been urged to contact police, as well as anyone who received one of the images.

And anyone with information that could assist detectives is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Victoria Police said they are currently providing support to identified victims, their families, and the school.

Originally published as ‘Diabolically bad’: Terrifying threat facing Australian students as graphic pictures rock Melbourne school