Images of girls depicted with nude bodies have resulted in resignations of key figures at a private school in Pennsylvania, sparked protests from students, and prompted a criminal investigation.
In August, a juvenile suspect was “removed from” Lancaster Country Day School, and law enforcement confiscated his cellphone as part of the inquiry, according to Susquehanna Regional Police Department Detective Laurel Bair.
This incident represents a growing issue regarding the use of artificial intelligence to produce or alter images containing sexual content, especially in educational environments.
Authorities in the U.S. have intensified efforts to combat graphic portrayals involving AI-generated children and manipulated images of actual minors. The Justice Department is actively pursuing individuals who take advantage of AI technologies for such purposes, and states are rushing to implement laws addressing these concerns.
In Pennsylvania, legislation set to take effect next month will specifically criminalize the creation or distribution of AI-generated child sexual abuse materials.
In South Korea, police are undertaking a seven-month initiative to tackle explicit deepfake material, which entails harsher penalties, greater use of undercover agents, and increased regulation of social media platforms. The urgency in South Korea spiked after lists allegedly containing names of affected schools circulated earlier in the year.
During the investigation into what Lancaster Country Day School termed “disturbing AI-generated images,” police executed a search warrant in the summer to collect an iPhone 11 associated with a 15-year-old, as noted in court documents which did not name the individual.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed for the search warrant, a concerned mother reported to authorities that her daughter claimed a fellow student had been “taking photographs of students and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to portray the female juvenile students as being nude.”
Matt Micciche, who was then the head of the school, informed police that a complaint regarding the images was received in November 2023 through the Safe2Say Something program; however, the suspect, identified only by initials, refuted the claims, as detailed in Bair’s affidavit.
Bair further noted that when parents discovered the existence of the photos in May, they found out the “AI nude photographs” had been shared in a chat room.
Leading the investigation, Bair remarked on the shock felt within the school community, expressing disbelief that such events could transpire in their close-knit environment. While she did not disclose the number of girls depicted in the images, she suggested that more information is likely to be available in the next two weeks.
Erik Yabor, a spokesperson for the Lancaster District Attorney’s office, stated that the prosecutors had no comments regarding the ongoing investigation.
A representative from Attorney General Michelle Henry’s office added that they were unable to discuss specific tips or reports related to the Safe2Say Something platform, which gathers anonymous reports about safety concerns from students and others. According to Brett Hambright, the agency confirmed that tips concerning this issue were transmitted to the relevant law enforcement or school officials for examination.
On November 8, most high-school students at Lancaster Country Day participated in a walkout, parading around the campus while chanting, “Hear us. Acknowledge us. See us.” Consequently, classes were canceled on the following Monday.
Reports indicate that the school announced the separation from Micciche and that board president Angela Ang-Alhadeff also resigned. In a letter to the school community, the Lancaster Country Day Board of Trustees indicated they are in the process of replacing both individuals, further explaining that the decision was made with the welfare of the impacted girls and the school’s long-term interests in mind.
The institution has begun offering counseling services to students while reviewing its reporting procedures, safety practices, and other policies related to student safety.
