Police are investigating reports that digitally altered explicit images using the faces of female students from a Sydney high school have been circulated online.<\/p>\n
The ABC understands a number of families attended Eastwood Police Station on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
Police confirmed in a brief statement that an investigation was underway.<\/p>\n
“Officers attached to Ryde Police Area Command have commenced an investigation,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
“Inquiries are ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.”<\/p>\n
The ABC has been told parents went to police after a male student who was sent the images reported it to his school.<\/p>\n
A Department of Education spokesperson\u00a0said the school was working closely with police on this matter.<\/p>\n
“Deepfakes present significant new risks to the wellbeing and privacy of students,” they said.<\/p>\n
“If any student is found to have engaged in this behaviour, the school will be taking strong disciplinary action.”<\/p>\n
Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos said the incident would be discussed with the Department of Education secretary today, and at the national education ministers meeting on Friday.<\/p>\n
“These are deeply concerning reports that I have been briefed on,” she said.<\/p>\n
“This isn’t a problem that we’re just facing in New South Wales, this is nationwide but it’s appropriate for police to be investigating this matter.”<\/p>\n
Ms Houssos said schools were “microcosms of what we’re seeing in the broader community”.<\/p>\n
“This is a challenge that we’re facing across the nation, I think it’s important that we consider that specifically in our schools,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Houssos said supports would be put in place at the school in question.<\/p>\n
“These are really concerning allegations and we’ll make sure we get to the bottom of it.”<\/p>\n
NSW deepfake laws strengthened<\/p>\n
Legislation passed NSW parliament last month outlawing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create intimate images of a real, identifiable person without their consent.<\/p>\n
The change to the Crimes Act 1900 made the production of sexually explicit deepfakes of a person punishable by up to three years’ jail.<\/p>\n