Hong Kong Student Investigated for Creating AI-Generated Inappropriate Images
A disturbing incident at the University of Hong Kong has come to light, involving a student who allegedly used artificial intelligence tools to create explicit images of female classmates and teachers without their consent. This revelation sparked concerns among the university community, leading to discussions on privacy and ethics in the digital age.
On July 15, Hong Kong’s privacy authority announced that it has begun a criminal investigation into the matter. They noted that sharing someone’s personal information without permission is a violation of privacy laws and that they will look into the student’s actions.
The investigation was prompted by a series of anonymous posts on Instagram, where individuals highlighted the accused student’s behavior. Reports indicate that a friend of the student discovered these inappropriate images on his laptop back in February. When confronted, the student admitted to using AI to produce them.
Identified only as “X,” the student purportedly created images of 20 to 30 people, including classmates, friends, and educators. The Instagram post revealed that he had amassed over 700 such images, neatly sorted into folders named after the individuals depicted.
In response to the fallout from the revelations, the student reached out to a few victims, but the Instagram account claimed he only provided personal apologies to two of them. Disturbingly, during these apologies, the student allegedly downplayed the situation by stating there were only five victims involved.
In late March, concerned individuals contacted the university’s disciplinary committee about being in classes with the student. However, the university mentioned that a legal consultation concluded the student had not violated any rules, allowing him to remain at the institution.
Recently, the university issued a warning letter to the student and requested him to apologize formally to the affected individuals. In an official statement on July 12, the university confirmed they are aware of the serious allegations and have been proactive in communicating with the impacted students to support their well-being, including making adjustments in class schedules.
As this case unfolds, it raises important questions about the intersection of technology, consent, and personal privacy in educational environments.
