Two Cookeville High School students arrested after investigators discovered they used artificial intelligence to create and share sexually explicit images of a classmate.
Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said the investigation began last week after the sheriff’s office received reports of sexually explicit images being shared at the school. Farris said the teenagers used an AI program to transform normal photos into sexual images. They, then distributed them to others.
One teenager faces one count of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. The second teenager is charged with two counts of each of those charges.
“Technology continues to change, but the responsibility that comes with using it does not,” Farris said. “Everyone needs to understand that inappropriately using Artificial Intelligence can have very serious complications.”
Farris said the students also shared other explicit images that were already stored on one of their mobile phones.
“I encourage parents to talk with their children about responsible technology use and make sure they understand what they create, save or share on a phone can have consequences,” Farris said.
School officials said students caught making, sharing, or keeping digitally altered images designed to embarrass or harm someone else will face the strongest penalties allowed.
