Police in eastern Spain are looking into a 17-year-old boy suspected of using artificial intelligence to produce and distribute altered images of his female classmates without their consent, with the intention of selling them online.
Authorities in the Ribera Alta region of Valencia began their investigation in December after a student reported a social media account created in her name, which contained an AI-generated video.
In a statement released on Sunday, officials said: "The account contained images of several individuals, all minors, which had been digitally altered so that the subjects appeared unclothed."
The same student later reported another fake social media account under her name, as well as additional accounts sharing AI-modified videos, and a website promoting the images for commercial gain.
After 15 other minors made similar reports, investigators suspected that one of the students from the same school was responsible.
By reviewing social media activity, communicating with hosting providers, and examining a website offering AI image modification services, authorities traced the suspect.
Officials stated: "Investigators obtained user and login details from these platforms—including IP addresses—leading them to the home of one of the complainants’ classmates. They also confirmed that the emails used to create the accounts were linked to the same individual."
A 17-year-old boy is now under investigation for allegedly exploiting minors, with a youth court in Valencia overseeing the case.
Last year, 15 minors in Spain’s Extremadura region received a one-year probation sentence after being found guilty of creating AI-generated fake nude images of their classmates and sharing them on messaging platforms.
The court also ordered them to participate in educational programs on gender equality and responsible technology use.
In a statement, the court explained: "Evidence showed that the minors used AI tools to manipulate images by taking girls' faces from their social media profiles and placing them on other bodies. The altered photos were then shared in two messaging groups."
An organization representing the affected families emphasized the broader societal impact of the case. They highlighted the importance of promoting gender equality and proper education to prevent such incidents, noting that learning about relationships from harmful sources can reinforce harmful behavior.
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