Student in Argentina charged over AI-generated explicit images of classmates
An 18-year-old student at a secondary school in Córdoba, Argentina is reportedly charged with using AI to generate explicit images of at least 20 female classmates and posting them to pornographic websites. The case marks the first prosecution in Argentina for gender-based violence involving AI-generated non-consensual intimate images.
What happened
An 18-year-old student at Instituto Preuniversitario Manuel Belgrano in Córdoba used AI to generate explicit images by combining the faces of female classmates with bodies of other women. He posted these images to pornographic websites, labeling them with the students' full names and addresses.
At least two 17-year-old students began receiving unsolicited contact requests on Instagram from men aged 40 to 50 after the images were posted. When one of the girls messaged one of these men, she learned that the AI-generated images had been shared online with her and other classmates' identities attached.
Reported impact
Two of the affected students are reportedly undergoing psychological treatment. Their families filed a criminal complaint against the 18-year-old.
An additional 20 female students from the school reported being victims of similar doctored images in a separate contravention case.
Index analysis
The case represents the first prosecution in Argentina to charge gender-based violence in connection with AI-generated non-consensual intimate images. The prosecutor charged the student under Article 6 of Law 26.485 (Protection Against Violence Against Women), which covers digital or telematic violence including non-consensual distribution of real or edited intimate material.
The prosecutor argued that the student's actions constitute psychological injury and gender-based violence due to the sexual objectification of the victims in digital spaces, noting that artificial representations can cause severe psychological consequences even without a specific AI-related criminal statute.
Governance controls
At the time of reporting, the student remained at liberty with a restraining order preventing contact with the complainants. The case awaits elevation to trial.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.