Following claims that a male student employed artificial intelligence to generate nude images of around 50 girls, two administrators from a Pennsylvania school have departed from their positions.

The issue was first made known in November 2023 through Safe2Say, an anonymous reporting app utilized by community members to report harassment, as per reports from WGAL-TV and WMPT-TV.

Commonly referred to as deepfakes, these images use AI to manipulate photographs, making it appear as though individuals engaged in actions they did not actually partake in. In this instance, a student stands accused of altering photos of students from Lancaster Country Day School to depict them as nude.

Although the incidents were initially reported in 2023, a comprehensive investigation did not commence until May 2024, following a parent’s report, according to WGAL-TV.

Here are the key details to note:

Lawyer: Number of altered images grows daily

As of Thursday evening, no individuals have been charged with creating the fabricated nude images, stated Matthew Faranda-Diedrich, a lawyer representing some affected students, during an interview with YSL News on Thursday.

The count of students whose images were manipulated has reached almost 50 and “it continues to grow each day,” he noted.

Faranda-Diedrich filed a lawsuit on behalf of Lancaster Country Day School students and their families on November 14, confirming this to YSL News.

The lawsuit demands resignations from Head of School Matt Micciche and board president Angela Ang-Alhadeff, with families alleging the school mishandled the matter.

Recently, the school’s Board of Trustees announced that both Micciche and Ang-Alhadeff were no longer employed by the institution, as reported by WGAL-TV.

This follows the board’s announcement that another administrator, Jenny Gabriel, has also resigned, although the reasons for her departure were not disclosed by the school, according to WGAL-TV.

According to Faranda-Diedrich, his clients are satisfied with some improvements already made at the school. The families “are eager to work together with the school to implement further changes and enhancements aimed at ensuring improved safety for both the victims and all students,” he told YSL News.

Student discovers fake nude photos through a peer

A student shared with WGAL-TV that she learned about her image being altered and used in one of the fake nude pictures from another classmate.

“A girl approached me at school and informed me that her image, along with mine and several other girls, had been used, and a boy manipulated them to create nude pictures utilizing AI, which he then shared in a Discord group chat with various boys from our school,” the girl recounted to WGAL-TV.

She expressed concerns that the photos might haunt her for the rest of her life.

In August, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s office authorized a search warrant, granting investigators access to examine how the photos were created.

A detective with the Susquehanna Regional Police Department retrieved electronic devices from a former Lancaster Country Day School student’s residence to gather data for analysis, as reported by WGAL-TV.

Both Adams and officials from the Susquehanna Regional Police declined to comment on the ongoing investigation when approached by YSL News on Thursday.

School’s reaction to the AI-generated pornographic images

In a statement to YSL News, the Lancaster Country Day School’s Board of Trustees described the situation as “disturbing.”

“We are currently finalizing our approach regarding the case,” the board stated. “What we can share is that the board has made decisions prioritizing the well-being of the affected girls and the long-term interests of the school.”

Lancaster Country Day School communicated with parents about the situation involving the images, informing them of the ongoing actions taken by school officials to address the issue.

In November 2023, an investigation was carried out regarding some alleged photos, but as reported by WGAL-TV, no evidence was found to confirm their existence.

The school officials initially concluded the investigation without informing the authorities. However, they reopened the case in May when discussions about the images resurfaced, according to WGAL-TV.

Subsequently, the school communicated with families, indicating that they had obtained evidence indicating the altered images were real. They stated that they had “reported this incident to the appropriate authorities.”

In an August letter to families, the school announced it would be implementing changes to enhance online safety and address artificial intelligence usage. At that time, Lancaster Country Day School informed students that creating images using AI, like the ones in question, is considered a “violation of our values and honor code.”

Are the images illegal? D.A. previously remarked it’s complicated.

When asked by WGAL-TV about the images related to Lancaster Country Day School, District Attorney Adams stated she couldn’t comment on the specifics but explained that under current child pornography laws, the definition of a “child” is understood to mean a real child.

According to Adams, the presence of those images might not warrant criminal charges.

“It heavily relies on the findings of the investigation, what evidence we gather, and what we can prove,” she mentioned. “If the facts support there being a case, we will proceed. However, if it’s determined that harm was caused despite no legal grounds, that would be deeply troubling and offensive.”