‘Abhorrent’: Student allegedly creates deepfake porn of female students using artificial intelligence

A student who allegedly made deepfake pornography of other female students at a school in Sydney’s southwest is set to face disciplinary action over the “abhorrent” incident.

The year 12 student, who cannot be named, allegedly used images from social media along with artificial intelligence to create pornographic photos of female students.

A deepfake is digitally created or generated content that can portray someone doing something that never happened.

The student also reportedly made fake social media profiles, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Parents and students were notified of the incident in an email from the Department of Education.

“The school has been made aware that a year 12 male student has allegedly used artificial intelligence to create a profile that resembles your daughters and others,” the email read.

“Unfortunately, innocent photos from social media and school events have been used.

“We want to emphasise that your daughters have done nothing wrong, there are no inappropriate real photos of them being used.

“I am sorry this has occurred.”

A NSW Department of Education spokesman said the department was working closely with police, who had launched an investigation into the incident.

“We do not tolerate such behaviour and will take the appropriate action,” the spokesman said.

“Our highest priority is to ensure our students feel safe and any decision about this student’s future involvement in the school will be based on that.

“We are helping affected students with appropriate wellbeing support and will do so as long as required.”

A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed an investigation was launched on January 6 following reports “inappropriate images were being produced and distributed online”.

“NSW Police are working with the eSafety Commissioner and the Department of Education. The investigation is ongoing,” the spokeswoman said.

NSW Minister for Education Prue Car said the incident was “abhorrent” and would not be tolerated while speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning.

“There will be disciplinary action for the student,” Ms Car said.

She thanked the deputy principal and the leadership at the school for their quick action and said the top priority was to ensure all students affected would be OK to return to school in the coming weeks.

“Especially given the concerns that you would have if any of your children were facing this, but these students are in the senior secondary levels of their education, and this is an abhorrent turn of events, and there will be serious disciplinary action,” Ms Car said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns echoed Ms Car’s thoughts.

“This is illegal behaviour, and I’m not going to speak about the specific case, because obviously that is before the police, and therefore it’s taken very seriously both by police and by the Department of Education, no matter where it happens,” Mr Minns said.

It follows a similar incident at a school in Victoria’s northwest in June last year when a student allegedly created graphic nude images of about 50 girls from the school.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said a 17-year-old boy was issued a caution in relation to allegedly circulating explicit images online.

“After extensive investigations, police consider the matter closed,” the spokeswoman said.

“If new information comes to light, police will investigate further.”

The Senate passed a bill in August last year to tackle the rise in the creation and distribution of non-consensual deepfake pornography.