Local News
“Manipulated, AI-generated sexual or abusive content cannot be viewed as a prank.”
A New Hampshire middle school is in the spotlight after students allegedly used artificial intelligence to generate nude images of three female classmates, according to local news reports.
“It’s been very disturbing, it’s really been devastating, and it’s been infuriating,” one of the girls’ mothers told Boston 25 News. “My daughter still doesn’t want to go to school.”
The deepfake images were shared with other students at Mountain View Middle School in Goffstown, according to reports from Boston 25 and the New Hampshire Union Leader.
The girls’ parents have reportedly expressed concern with the school district’s response, pushing for greater transparency and stronger digital policies.
“My biggest fear is about what will happen next time,” one parent told the Union Leader. “We’ve been getting nothing but silence from the district and a total lack of transparency. They need to make a statement acknowledging that this happened, so parents can take this opportunity to talk to their kids.”
In a Nov. 7 email to Mountain View Middle School and Goffstown High School families and staff, Superintendent Brian Balke acknowledged there was information circulating on social media regarding a “recent incident” at the middle school, though he did not offer specifics.
“When you see or hear things online about our schools, the messaging shared can sometimes be worrying — especially when what’s being shared may be incomplete or not entirely accurate,” Balke wrote, per a copy of the email provided to Boston.com. “When information is posted on social media, it can sometimes lead to rumors, speculation, or questions that may unintentionally cause harm or anxiety for our students and families.”
He said the district faces a “challenge” when it comes to transparency, as school officials legally and ethically cannot share details about student discipline, investigations, and outcomes.
“I know this can cause frustration,” Balke wrote. “Student safety continues to be our top priority.”
The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence also weighed in, praising the girls’ parents for speaking up and touting state and federal laws meant to address explicit AI imagery. Those statutes include a new state law making it a Class B felony to create or distribute deepfakes to embarrass or harass someone.
“Schools must ensure their policies are up-to-date and in full compliance with these protections,” the coalition wrote in a Facebook post Monday. “Students and families need to know that this harmful conduct will be taken seriously.”
The organization also emphasized prevention, stressing the need for ongoing education to help students understand the consequences of creating or sharing “abusive content” like deepfakes.
“There must also be real accountability for those who create these harmful images,” the coalition said. “Manipulated, AI-generated sexual or abusive content cannot be viewed as a prank. These fake images can have serious emotional and social impacts on victims. They may also have serious legal consequences for those who create or share them.”
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