Pennsylvania parents target school district over AI deepfakes

The emergence of AI-generated explicit images has created a crisis at Lancaster Country Day School in Pennsylvania, where administrators face serious allegations of mishandling incidents involving female students.

Initial incident and response: A Safe2Say Something tip in November 2023 alerted school officials to AI-generated nude images of female students, but the administration allegedly failed to take appropriate action.

• Nearly 50 female students were reportedly victimized through the creation of AI-generated nude images
• The school’s Head, Matt Micciche, allegedly failed to report the incident to law enforcement despite being a mandated reporter
• A second incident reported in May 2024 only reached law enforcement after direct parent intervention

Legal developments: Parents are moving forward with legal action against the school, represented by attorney Matthew Faranda-Diedrich.

• The legal team has issued formal notice of intent to sue the school
• Parents demanded the resignations of Head of School Matt Micciche and board president Angela Ang-Alhadeff
• The 48-hour ultimatum for resignations passed without the requested leadership changes

Student response and community impact: The situation has sparked significant unrest within the school community.

• Students organized a walkout to protest the administration’s handling of the incidents
• The scope of victimization may be broader than initially reported, with the possibility of additional perpetrators still attending the school
• The incidents have raised concerns about student safety and administrative accountability

Legal demands: The parents’ attorney has outlined specific requirements for the school to address the situation.

• Administrative changes including placing Micciche on leave and accepting leadership resignations
• Enhanced security measures including hiring a full-time security director and IT forensics investigation
• Support services including free counseling and ongoing assistance for victims
• Implementation of new protocols requiring parental consent for victim interactions
• Mandatory reporter training for staff

Future implications: This case highlights the growing challenges educational institutions face in addressing AI-generated explicit content, raising questions about preparedness, response protocols, and legal obligations in the digital age.