Mullumbimby High is on a list of 71 Australian schools, including 28 in NSW, whose students have been targeted by a porn website on which Australian men exchange nude and explicit images of teenage girls.
Both Grafton and South Grafton high schools are also on the list.
The men target specific areas and schools, publishing or asking for images, which they describe as ‘wins’.
But they don’t stop there. The men often ask for further identifying information of the girls, including names, home addresses and even phone numbers.
Men using the site will often swap images of one girl for another one they’re seeking.
Media reports say that girls who have asked for their own or friends’ photos to been removed have encountered retaliation, including calls for more pictures to be unearthed.
While some of the images simply show the subjects naked, other show teenage girls engaged in sex acts.
Some of the photos have been obtained from vengeful ex-partners while one site user admitted stealing photos from a computer he was asked to fix.
Australian Federal Police admitted the existence of the site yesterday but said they were powerless to close it down because the site was being hosted overseas.
AFP’s acting superintendent Marcus Boorman told media, ‘The sharing of this material is predatory behavior and we will be doing everything to identify who is posting this information.’
Police say some of the girls in the images appear to be under the age of 16 but they have added there is ‘no evidence’ of child exploitation material’.
The AFP said in a statement, ‘Detectives from the Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit are liaising with law enforcement colleagues in other jurisdictions and making inquiries to determine if any offences have been committed in NSW.
‘Police are also working closely with the Office of the Children’s e-Safety Commissioner.
‘In addition, police are liaising with the NSW Department of Education, the Association of independent Schools of NSW and Catholic Schools NSW, who will engage with parents and students who may have concerns.’
An Education Department spokesperson told Echonetdaily although Mullumbimby High School had been included in a list of schools whose students were sought by users of the website, there was no evidence the photographs or identity of any of its students had been compromised.
According to a statement, ‘the department has strict guidelines around cyber-safety in schools.
‘Age appropriate cyber-safety is taught in NSW government schools.
‘Schools contact NSW Police whenever they become aware of any potential criminal activity.
‘NSW public schools will provide confidential support and counselling to any student affected,’ it read.
The spokesperson said representatives of individual schools had been requested not to comment.
Anyone who believes their photo has been posted on the site is urged to make a report to their local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Police are reminding the community it is a criminal offence to take, transmit or possess images that are considered child abuse material (of a person under 18 years).
This also applies to teenagers, who are reminded that the dissemination of any material depicting nudity or sexual activity involving young people could constitute a criminal offence.
They should be aware they could be arrested and charged and, if convicted, will have a criminal record.
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