Fake, sexually explicit photos of Melbourne high school students circulated online

Police are investigating after fake, sexually explicit images of students from a school in Melbourne’s west were circulated online.

Victoria Police said an unknown number of formal photos of female students at Gladstone Park Secondary College had been “inappropriately manipulated using artificial intelligence”, before being released on the internet.

Detectives were first made aware of the matter on Thursday afternoon and are working to establish the number of victims involved, a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

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

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A Department of Education spokesman said misogynistic and disrespectful behaviour was unacceptable in any Victorian school.

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

Investigations into the matter are ongoing and the school has been contacted for comment.