The Minors Group (Grume) of the National Police in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is currently investigating two students from La Salle San Ildefonso School for distributing manipulated photos of naked classmates via WhatsApp groups using artificial intelligence.
According to sources from the National Police and the Department of Education of the Canary Islands, the regional department has activated educational inspection services, the sexual violence protocol, and initiated a formal investigation.
The incriminating images were discovered on one of the students’ phones on February 21 and involve at least three students from the school and a separate group of non-La Salle individuals.
The matter was brought to light by the mother of one of the minors, who reported it to the National Police, the Ministry of Education, and the school, a privately funded educational institution located in the island’s capital.
The school has referred the case to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and an investigation is currently ongoing.
Under the educational protocol of the Canary Islands, schools are mandated to report any incidents related to privacy and dignity among students to the Educational Inspection and the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office. This marks the first such case in the region involving the alteration of images using artificial intelligence.
The Minister of Education, Poli Suárez, expressed regret over the distressing incident at the school, emphasizing the importance of allowing the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation while exercising caution.
Suárez noted that although La Salle San Ildefonso is funded by the government and not subject to the Ministry’s directive to limit mobile phone usage on school premises, he remains optimistic that the situation will be addressed and resolved appropriately.
Accountability of Minors
The Government delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, clarified that the students under investigation are not liable, highlighting the significance of education in preventing the misuse of technology among young individuals.
Pestana stressed the need for a shift in values to combat such incidents, pointing out that educating children on the consequences of their actions and the importance of respecting their peers’ privacy is crucial.
He further mentioned that this case underscores the recurrent misuse of artificial intelligence by minors to manipulate images, emphasising the urgency of instilling ethical values in the younger generation.
