Politics

AI-manipulated images in schools prompt legislative push and safety concerns

Thursday, 5 February 2026 1:24AM UTC

Students at a Plymouth school circulated AI-altered images of staff, prompting warnings from educators and a legislative effort in Indiana to criminalise non-consensual AI-created content, amid growing concerns about online harms and digital literacy.

Students at a Plymouth intermediate school have circulated AI-manipulated photographs of staff on social media, depicting teachers alongside other pupils and with public figures accused of serious crimes, raising alarm among school leaders and families. According to local reporting, the school sent parents a letter on 3 February asking them to discuss the matter with their children and warning that the images “could cause serious issues” for educators.

School officials told reporters the matter has been dealt with internally; a communications director declined further comment and “No comment, but then told us, "The situation has been handled internally."” Local law enforcement confirmed there is currently no specific state statute that addresses many forms of AI-altered images, and a previous, similar incident was forwarded to the county prosecutor, who said, "..we have no information we can share at this time. However, if/when we do, we'll make sure to release a statement."

State lawmakers have moved to fill gaps in the criminal code. According to statements from the Indiana House Republican leadership, legislation advanced in 2024 would expand the definition of intimate images to include those created or altered with AI without a person's consent, making distribution a criminal offence punishable as a Class A misdemeanor or, for more serious conduct, a Level 6 felony carrying up to 30 months' imprisonment. Governor Eric Holcomb signed related measures earlier in 2024 that also require disclosure when AI has been used to manipulate political adverts.

Other proposed measures would make producing AI-generated sexual images a felony and impose disclosure requirements for deceptively altered media, reflecting a wider push by state legislators to curb non-consensual deepfakes. Representative Maureen Bauer was quoted saying it is time to confront the new digital realities and that “It is not a victimless crime. Even if the image is fake, it has real consequences.”

Experts and child-safety groups urge schools and parents to combine disciplinary steps with education about AI tools and online harms. Industry and advocacy organisations note minors who create or share non-consensual intimate images can face legal and social consequences, while also stressing the importance of teaching digital literacy to prevent further misuse.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://wsbt.com/news/local/ai-generated-photos-target-plymouth-teachers-marshal-digitally-altered-artificial-intelligence-laws-legal-illegal-images-damaging-educators-students-create-consequences-police-marshall-county-indiana - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/news/press-releases/house-committee-advances-rep.-negele-s-bill-to-combat-ai-created-intimate-images-protect-victims/ - In January 2024, the Indiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee unanimously advanced State Representative Sharon Negele's legislation aimed at criminalising the creation and distribution of intimate images generated using artificial intelligence without the victim's consent. The bill seeks to expand the state's definition of intimate images to include AI-generated or altered content, making such actions a Class A misdemeanor or Level 6 felony, punishable by up to 30 months in prison. This legislative move responds to the increasing misuse of AI in creating non-consensual explicit images, which can severely impact victims' personal, academic, and professional lives.
https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/news/press-releases/house-approves-negele-s-bill-to-protect-victims-of-deep-fake-porn-nudify-ai-apps/ - In January 2024, the Indiana House of Representatives approved legislation authored by State Representative Sharon Negele to protect individuals from non-consensual AI-generated intimate images, commonly known as deepfake pornography. The bill aims to criminalise the creation and distribution of such images by expanding the state's definition of intimate images to include AI-generated or altered content. Offenders could face penalties ranging from a Class A misdemeanor to a Level 6 felony, depending on the nature of the offence. This legislative effort addresses the growing concern over the misuse of AI in creating explicit images without consent, which can have devastating effects on victims.
https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/news/press-releases/governor-signs-rep.-negele-s-bill-to-criminalize-deepfake-revenge-porn/ - In March 2024, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed into law legislation authored by State Representative Sharon Negele that criminalises the distribution of AI-generated intimate images, commonly referred to as deepfake pornography. The law expands the state's definition of intimate images to include those generated or altered using AI without the individual's consent, making such actions a Class A misdemeanor or Level 6 felony, punishable by up to 30 months in prison. This legislative move aims to protect individuals from the harmful effects of non-consensual AI-generated explicit content.
https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/news/press-releases/olthoff-s-bill-requiring-disclosure-of-ai-use-in-deceptive-election-ads-now-law/ - In March 2024, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed into law legislation authored by State Representative Julie Olthoff that requires a disclaimer on AI-generated or digitally altered media used in political advertisements. The law mandates that any audio, video, or images of a candidate that have been altered using AI must include a disclaimer, allowing voters to identify fake ads and protecting the integrity of elections. If a label is not included, the candidate can bring a civil action against those responsible for the fake content. This legislation addresses the growing concern over the use of AI in creating deceptive political advertisements.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/kids-action/articles/deepfakes-can-be-a-crime-teaching-ai-literacy-can-prevent-it - This article discusses the rise of AI-generated deepfake images, particularly explicit content, and the legal implications for minors who create or share such material. It highlights the ease with which AI tools can be used to create realistic fake images and the potential legal consequences for minors involved in producing or distributing non-consensual explicit content. The article also emphasises the importance of teaching AI literacy to prevent misuse and protect individuals from the harmful effects of deepfakes.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 3

Notes: ⚠️ The article references events from February 3, 2026, but no corroborating reports from other reputable sources are available. The earliest known publication date of similar content is February 5, 2026, from the source provided. The lack of earlier coverage raises concerns about the freshness and originality of the information.

Quotes check

Score: 2

Notes: ⚠️ The article includes direct quotes attributed to local law enforcement and state lawmakers. However, these quotes cannot be independently verified through available online sources. The absence of verifiable sources for these quotes significantly undermines their credibility.

Source reliability

Score: 4

Notes: ⚠️ The primary source is a local news outlet, WSB-TV, which may have limited reach and resources compared to major news organisations. The lack of corroboration from other reputable sources raises concerns about the reliability of the information.

Plausibility check

Score: 5

Notes: ⚠️ The narrative describes AI-manipulated photographs of teachers circulating on social media, which is plausible given the increasing use of AI in image manipulation. However, the absence of supporting details from other reputable outlets makes it difficult to fully assess the plausibility of the claims.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): LOW

Summary: The article presents a narrative about AI-generated photos targeting teachers in Plymouth, Indiana, but lacks corroboration from other reputable sources. The absence of independently verifiable quotes and supporting details raises significant concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information. Given these issues, the content cannot be considered reliable for publication.

AI manipulation
Deepfake legislation
School safety