Victoria Police is investigating after alleged deepfake porn images of students at a Melbourne school were reported, while two year 11 students at Gladstone Park Secondary College have been suspended.
Police say they were made aware of formal photos being “digitally altered with artificial intelligence” on Thursday afternoon, and believe up to 60 students could be affected.
Detective sergeant Simon Garner, from Victoria Police’s child abuse team, said: “It’s hard to believe these platforms are out there, where they can actually do these things.”
“I find it quite disturbing, quite despicable,” he told reporters.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan told the ABC the incident was “appalling”.
“Young girls and women deserve to feel safe and respected in the classroom, in any room, in any community across our state,” she said.
“And this behaviour breaches that trust, breaches that respect, and it holds not just women and girls back, but it holds boys and men back too.”
In a statement, a spokesperson from the Victorian Department of Education said students were being supported.
“Misogynistic and disrespectful behaviour is unacceptable in any Victorian school,” the statement read.
“Gladstone Park Secondary College has taken appropriate disciplinary action and wellbeing support has been offered to any students who need it.”