Stevie Hyder felt nauseous.
A few weeks ago, the 15-year-old was standing in the hallway of her high school in Illinois when she discovered that one of her sophomore classmates had used artificial intelligence (AI) to create nude photos of her. Noticed. Her friends said she had dozens of doctored images of her and other teenage girls circulating. Some of them also depicted teachers.
Haider was the 22nd girl on the list when the principal called her mother.
“He was very upset at first,” said his mother, Stephanie Essex. “But it didn’t take long for us both to become very angry about the situation.”
As similar incidents continue to occur across the country, anger is quickly becoming a sentiment shared by many parents, especially parents of young girls. As AI gains a stronger foothold in America’s economy and culture, school administrators watch as his AI creeps into schools.
Except, as Hyder principal Mike Baird wrote in a message to parents, policing early technology isn’t easy.
“As we reflect on recent events, it is clear that we face new challenges in the technology and social media space,” he said in the March 15 letter. “There are no strategies to deal with much of what we are encountering.”
As incidents increase, principals and parents are forced to navigate a patchwork of school district policies and state laws, some of which are stricter than others.
Two middle school boys have been arrested in connection with an incident in Florida in December, according to warrants obtained by USA TODAY. The impact in other states and school districts has been less severe, at least so far.
If administrators want to avoid a similar nightmare, experts say now is the time to clarify the rules around AI.
“If you take precautions for everyone, you’re in a much better position than playing whack-a-mole,” said Kate Ruane, a free speech attorney at the Center for Democratic Technology. Ta.
Middle school student arrested in Miami
In December, two middle school boys at a Miami charter school were arrested on suspicion of using an AI app to create nude photos of their 12- to 13-year-old classmates, according to arrest warrants.
Authorities charged the boys with third-degree felonies, citing a state law that prohibits the “unauthorized promotion of sexually explicit images.” Many states, including Texas and Virginia, have so-called “deepfake laws” that criminalize the production of nonconsensual pornography using images of other people. More state legislatures are considering enacting such rules.
read more:Big tech promises to crack down on election AI deepfakes in 2024. Will they keep their word?
Mary Ann Franks, a professor at George Washington University School of Law and an expert on revenge porn law, says Florida’s law is particularly strict. But in Franks’ view, the Miami case is an example of overcharging.
“It’s a very young thing to charge someone with a felony,” she said.
The Florida Charter School Alliance, the group representing Pinecrest Cove Preparatory Academy, an all-boys school, declined to comment. Their parents did not respond to requests for comment.
Beverly Hills student expelled over deepfake scandal
A few months later, a similar scandal broke out at a middle school in Beverly Hills, California.
In February, five eighth-graders at Beverly Vista Middle School were involved in using AI to superimpose the faces of 16 other eighth-graders on nude photos, according to a statement from CBS Los Angeles and the school district. .
The Beverly Hills Police Department has opened an investigation into the incident, said Andrew Myers, a spokesperson for the department. The investigation is ongoing.
read more:New Congressional Select Committee May Regulate Use of AI, but Not Focused on 2024 Elections
On March 6, the Beverly Hills Unified School District board approved a provision to expel the five eighth-graders involved, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“We recognize that our children are still learning and growing, and mistakes are part of that process,” District Superintendent Michael Breggie shared with USA TODAY. said in a statement. “However, accountability is essential and appropriate measures are being taken.”
School is in ‘uncharted territory,’ says mother
In Haider’s case at Richmond-Barton Community High School in Illinois, the student who was distributing the doctored photo was using a school email address, said Haider’s mother, Essex. Administrators had no idea what was happening until another student reported it, she said.
“Their filter must have caught something,” Essex said. “It could have lasted for months.”
Principal Baird confirmed to USA TODAY that Richmond police are investigating the incident. He told his parents that law enforcement is providing daily updates. He said in a message to the community Friday that the students accused of being involved in making the photos likely won’t return for at least the rest of the school year.
Haider just hopes the photos don’t come back to haunt him.
“This is uncharted territory,” her mother said.
Zachary Schermele covers education and breaking news for USA TODAY. He can be reached by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow @ZachSchermele on X.
