Grace Lutheran College in Rothwell engulfed in deepfake nude scandal with students

A prestigious Queensland school has become the latest embroiled in a deepfake nude scandal with parents furious over the order staff issued to students.

The victims say they “feel unsafe” at Grace Lutheran College.

A prestigious Queensland school failed to alert police to deepfake nudes of female students created and shared online by a male classmate – and ordered the girls to delete the images from their phones.

Grace Lutheran College in Rothwell also did not expel the boy – even after he was charged by police.

The victims say they feel unsafe at the City of Moreton Bay school after telling staff about the imagery more than a year ago.

Police confirmed the first report of the explicit material was filed by parents on May 27, 2024. Other families lodged police reports in July.

On April 19, the boy was dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act for one count each of possessing child exploitation material, distributing child exploitation material.

This is the second Lutheran Education Queensland school embroiled in a nude social media scandal.

Grace Lutheran College at Rothwell.

As the Sunday Mail reported last week, Good Shepherd Lutheran College in Noosaville was made aware in February of potentially illegal imagery posted by students on Snapchat but it was not reported to police until May.

This week police confirmed a boy from Noosa Heads had been charged with one count of use of carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

He also has not been expelled.

Following our coverage, aggrieved members of Grace Lutheran College came forward.

One of the girls said “innocent photos” were taken off Instagram then altered using AI and posted on Snapchat by a boy in their year.

She said when the girls alerted staff they were told it was “a police matter” and they should report it themselves.

Grace Lutheran College has become embroiled in a scandal.

“The school also asked to see some students’ phones and said to delete any naked photos we’d been sent, which means all evidence on hand was destroyed,” she said.

“We felt the school didn’t believe we were victims and dismissed us as though we were trying to be part of the drama.

“We still need to attend school with this boy, feeling unsafe and distracted.”

The student said screenshots of the deepfakes still existed.

“This is upsetting as we worry the images will turn up in our future and others will not understand we did not post them ourselves.”

A parent said the police investigation was hindered and protracted because the school told students to delete the explicit images – before parents were able to report it.

“The school’s response has been terrible; they have failed in their duty of care and basically told us it was our problem,” the parent said.

“We have exchanged dozens of emails over the past year and the information we have been given is inconsistent.”

Grace Lutheran College has responded to the scandal.

She said police told her in October they had been able to identify the boy by tracking his IP address, yet the school said it disciplined the boy last May.

On June 8, the girls’ parents again emailed the school and its governing body, Lutheran Education Queensland.

“The school did not report the incident to police as when we all reported it ourselves within a two-month period, the police officer confirmed there was no report from the school,” the email said.

“A staff member wrongly told students to delete the images which destroyed the evidence.

“As it has now been over 12 months since the images were created and distributed, we require an immediate response on the next steps.

“It is our position the boy should be expelled so the victims do not need to feel unsafe and uncomfortable at school.”

In an email on June 11, head of college David Radke and head of campus Kate McKenzie said it was “not appropriate for parents to demand disciplinary outcomes”.

“The college first became aware of this matter in or around mid May 2024, at which time it took immediate action in accordance with its code of conduct and behaviour management policies,” Mr Radke and Ms McKenzie wrote.

The Grace Lutheran College scandal adds to a recent string of incidents.

“This included conducting wellbeing checks, offering free counselling appointments, and preparing safety plans for the affected students.

“At this time families were also encouraged to report the matter to the eSafety Commissioner and/or Queensland Police.

“The student who was the subject of the allegations was disciplined at the time.”

They said representatives of the college communicated with police from May 2024, offering any assistance it could provide to the ongoing investigation, including reporting obligations.

“Given the police were investigating the matter, the college considered it appropriate the police take the lead in their investigation (and noting the student had been disciplined by this time).”

In response to the Sunday Mail’s questions, Mr Radke reiterated the college followed its policies when notified about the incident over a year ago and also said “the Queensland police were simultaneously notified of the matter”.

“The police investigation has now concluded, and we understand no further action has been taken,” he said.

On April 9, in an email to the girls’ parents, Mr Radke and Ms McKenzie said the school had “very limited authority to access a student’s personal device”.

“While Grace has been made aware of the allegations made against a male student involving female Grace students as victims, we have no evidence on which to act and no communication from the police.

“In regard to progressing disciplinary action against the boy, Grace College needs evidence that beyond doubt directly links the boy to the creation and or distribution (or both) of the pornographic images; clearly such behaviour is unacceptable to the Grace community.

“As in the recent past we will fully co-operate with the police if and when we are required.”

The Courier-Mail also contacted LEQ for comment.

Originally published as Grace Lutheran College in Rothwell engulfed in deepfake nude scandal with students