Police Investigation Launched After Deepfakes of School Staff Circulated Online
Police have initiated a formal investigation following reports that deepfake images of staff members at a Norfolk school were posted on a sex website. The explicit images, which targeted employees of Alderman Peel High School in Wells, Norfolk, are understood to have been created using real pictures taken from the social media profiles of the staff.
Details of the Incident
Officers were alerted to a number of fake online profiles that appeared to use authentic images of staff at Alderman Peel High School. These images were digitally altered using artificial intelligence (AI) to create explicit content. The deepfakes reportedly circulated widely online and were seen by students, prompting senior staff to contact parents about the disturbing situation.
A staff member is believed to have contacted the police regarding the images, leading to the launch of the probe. In a letter sent to parents and reported by the Eastern Daily Press, Daniel Thrower, chief executive of the Wensum Trust – which runs the school – stated: "We are working closely with the police and relevant authorities and we are engaging with the social media platforms involved to have the content and posts removed."
School and Police Response
Thrower emphasized the trust's stance against online harassment, adding: "As a trust, we do not tolerate any form of online harassment and we would appreciate your support in refraining from engaging with or sharing such content." The newspaper noted that the profiles did not name any staff but used real images sourced from social media.
Norfolk Police confirmed that officers received a report on 4 February regarding a fake online profile. A spokesperson added: "An investigation is underway into the matter which is being treated as a potential offence under the Communications Act 2003." The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify those responsible and remove the content from online platforms.
