Two Std IX students create morphed images of teachers, principal

Pune: Two Std IX students allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to create morphed images of their teachers and principal and posted them on social media groups because of a grudge against the teachers for reprimanding them.A 42-year-old teacher from a private English-medium school in Vimannagar lodged a complaint with the Pune cyber police on Oct 14.Pune cyber police traced the students through a technical probe. They are currently being counselled. “The students had attempted to defame the teachers by posting objectionable photographs,” an officer said.The students created objectionable images of 12 teachers and the principal and uploaded them on social media, claiming that they were exposing the educational institution. “Some images depicted teachers as smoking cigarettes, while others showed them consuming alcohol. The images were uploaded on Oct 12,” the officer said.The principal’s photograph was combined with photographs of Jeffrey Epstein and other international personalities, including Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and Arnold Schwarzenegger. “The images were accompanied by objectionable comments. Questions were also raised about the use of school funds,” the officer said.A team headed by senior inspector Swapnali Shinde counselled the students and explained the ill effects of excessive social media use. “During questioning, the students told the police that they held a grudge against the teachers for reprimanding them in the classroom,” Shinde said.