Private school denies discouraging parents from telling victims about deepfake incident -…
A private school in Tasmania, Australia, is under scrutiny after a deepfake incident where AI-generated pornographic images of female students were allegedly shared by male students.
- Incident date
- Apr 2026
- Target
- Students at The Friends' School
A controversy arose at The Friends' School after female students were identified in AI-generated pornographic images. The images were allegedly shared in a group chat by male students, leading to the departure of five boys from the school. The core of the issue revolves around how the school communicated with the parents of the victims.
What happened
Two parents claimed that senior staff advised them that most parents would not inform their daughters about the deepfakes. The parents expressed concern that their daughters felt isolated because they were unaware if other peers had been informed. The school denies discouraging parents from telling their daughters about the situation, stating they aimed to balance transparency, the integrity of the investigation, and the wellbeing of those involved. One parent disputed the level of support provided, stating they were given a list of external agencies and left to manage the situation independently. Police told parents that 21 girls had been identified as victims. A formal complaint was lodged to the school stating that the parent was advised that the majority of parents had chosen not to inform their children.