UK Schools Urged to Remove Student Photos Amid AI-Generated Explicit Image Blackmail

The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) and child safety experts have warned schools to remove student photos from websites and social media due to blackmail threats involving AI-manipulated explicit images. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported that an unnamed UK secondary school was recently targeted: criminals took photos from the school's website or social media, used AI tools to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM), then demanded money to prevent publication. The IWF converted 150 manipulated images into digital hashes shared with tech platforms to block uploads. The extortion occurred late last year, but the IWF knows of other similar cases. The Early Warning Working Group (EWWG), a UK advisory body, issued guidance recommending schools avoid clear face-on photos, use distant or blurred images, and consider whether publishing any pupil photos is necessary. The guidance warns against sharing identifiable information like names or faces, emphasizing that it is 'only a matter of time' before more schools are targeted.