Beverly Hills school expels students over deepfake nude photos
Five middle school students in Beverly Hills who were accused of using AI to create fake nude images of their classmates have been expelled.
The Beverly Hills Unified School District voted this week to confirm the expulsion of five middle school students who were accused last month of using generative AI to create and share fake nude images of their classmates, according to the Los Angeles Times and the school board’s meeting minutes.
The case became national news days after Beverly Vista Middle School officials began investigating the incident in February and the Beverly Hills Police Department launched its own criminal investigation, which is ongoing. No arrests have been made and no charges have been brought.
The five students and their victims were in the eighth grade, according to the school district. Sixteen students were targeted, Superintendent Michael Bregy said in an email to the district community, which was obtained by NBC News.
“This incident has spurred crucial discussions on the ethical use of technology, including AI, underscoring the importance of vigilant and informed engagement within digital environments,” Bregy wrote. “Furthermore, we recognize that kids are still learning and growing, and mistakes are part of this process. However, accountability is essential, and appropriate measures have been taken.”
The expulsions, which the school district reportedly approved on Wednesday, are a turning point in how schools have publicly handled deepfake cases so far. The expelled students and their parents did not contest the district’s decision and will not be identified, according to the Los Angeles Times.
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