A student at a private high school in Taichung is suspected of using AI Deepfake to target a fellow student. The student allegedly spread sexual images on TG, and it is suspected they are still attending Xing University.

A male student at a private high school in Taichung used AI Deepfake to synthesize 20 inappropriate photos and spread them via Telegram. The victims included underage female students. The school has now launched a gender equity investigation, and criminal investigators have also been brought in.

Male student at a private high school in Taichung involved Deepfake targeting female students; distributing sexual images on TG

According to reports from Central News Agency and Mirror Weekly, two high school seniors at a private high school in Taichung used AI Deepfake (deepfakes) technology to synthesize inappropriate photos of underage female students from their own school, and used the messaging app Telegram to create thousands of groups to spread them. There were 20 victims, and the case was exposed in mid-March.

A whistleblower alleged anonymously that, to protect the school’s reputation, the school covered up the matter and arranged for the two male students involved to switch to online classes. The whistleblower also said that one of the male students had already been admitted to university through the Fuxingxing (Star Admission) program, and pointed out that instructors appeared to have required secrecy on the grounds of avoiding a second round of harm, which led to public questions about the school’s stance. The whistleblower called on the universities that admitted the students involved to carefully assess their qualifications.

The school has launched a gender-sensitivity investigation; police have asked prosecutors to handle the case

Regarding this case, the Taichung City Government Education Bureau told the media that after the private high school became aware of the incident, it had, in accordance with the law, initiated procedures for a gender equality investigation.

The school also, as required, completed campus safety notifications and transferred the case to the school’s Gender Equality Education Committee. At present, the gender-equality committee has decided to initiate an investigation. However, based on confidentiality principles, it has not disclosed the details of the case.

Police in the jurisdiction stated that the case has already been reported to prosecutors for investigation and clarification pending further investigation.

From the Xiao Yu incident to South Korea’s N-room—Deepfake crime tends to involve younger age groups

With generative AI and Deepfake technology continuing to evolve, cases in which malicious actors use them to produce sexual exploitation images have also been increasing.

For example, between 2020 and 2021, Taiwanese influencer Zhu Yuchen (Xiao Yu) abused Deepfake technology to create sexual images by synthesizing female public figures for profit. In South Korea, in 2024, there was also a surge of unlawful Deepfake pornography, with victims including underage girls and members of well-known girl groups, and related crimes have spread across schools.

At the time, South Korea’s official data further showed that 75% of the offenders caught were from the 10 to 19 age group, while another survey indicated that among Deepfake victims this year to date, 37% are minors.

• **Related reports:**TWICE also became victims! South Korea Deepfake porn sparks the “N-room 2.0,” and Telegram is also under investigation

Now, in Taiwan, it has emerged that students at a private junior high school may be involved in a similar case—once again highlighting the phenomenon that Deepfake sexual exploitation crimes involve younger age groups. How to both prevent crimes and strengthen sexual education and legal concepts for adolescents has become a major challenge.