TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City police are working with cybercrimes experts at the Michigan State Police to investigate a student accused of creating vulgar AI-generated images of fellow classmates, authorities said.
The Traverse City Police Department said its Computer Crimes Detective is coordinating with the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on the case.
John VanWagoner, superintendent of Traverse City Area Public Schools, said the district contacted law enforcement immediately and is fully cooperating with the investigation.
“Whenever we have any kind of situation, we first and foremost want to make sure that our kids are safe and that we follow our board policies and state and federal law,” VanWagoner said.
VanWagoner confirmed that parents of students believed to be affected have been notified, calling it standard protocol under the district’s safety and security policies.
The superintendent said the rise of artificial intelligence has changed the challenges schools face in keeping students safe, and urged parents to pay close attention to how their children are using technology.
“I think it’s really important that the parents are very aware of what students are doing using technology, and recognizing the social aspects that the kids are exposed to, and making sure that our students and all of our staff and community understand the legal ramifications that some of these things now have with 21st-century technologies,” VanWagoner said.
TCAPS said it is reviewing its policies and examining best practices from districts across the country.
VanWagoner acknowledged that keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology remains a significant challenge, even for well-resourced organizations.
“Our number one thing that we can do is try and talk to parents and recognizing the new technologies and the new things that are out there that can put students in danger, and make sure that they understand that they’re talking to their students on what those dangers are,” he said.
VanWagoner did not disclose the specific way the district was first made aware of the incident, citing the ongoing investigation. However, he said the district has multiple channels for students, parents and community members to report concerns.
Those include speaking directly with an adult in a school building, using the Michigan State Police OK2Say anonymous reporting system, or submitting a report through the district’s website.
“We always encourage any students or parents or community member that hears of anything or whatever that may put a student or staff or a building in any kind of danger or an unsafe situation to notify us,” VanWagoner said. “But with any specifics, that always is handled by law enforcement.”
Police said the investigation is ongoing and asked for the community’s patience as the case moves forward.