Parents expected to air AI video concerns at Radnor school board meeting
At the Radnor Township School Board’s policy committee meeting this evening, local parents are expected to voice concerns about an investigation into rumors that artificial intelligence was used to create an inappropriate video of students.
In addition to the anticipated public comments, “generative artificial intelligence” is an official agenda item for the meeting, which is slated for 6 p.m. at the Radnor Township School District administration building.
News of an AI-generated video depicting Radnor High School students first surfaced in December, when Principal Dr. Joseph MacNamara emailed parents to address “concerns and rumors regarding an AI-generated video that was reported to depict several of our students in an inappropriate manner.” MacNamara said at the time that the school district had opened its own investigation and reached out to Radnor police.
On Jan. 16, parents received a letter offering an “update on [the] Radnor High School incident” from Radnor Township School District Superintendent Kenneth Batchelor, Radnor Township Superintendent of Police Christopher Flanagan, and MacNamara.
The letter, obtained by Fideri News Network, stated that the Radnor police concluded its investigation and determined that “during a small gathering off school grounds and outside of school hours, students used a personal cell phone to copy publicly available images of other students. The student used an app that animates images, making them appear to move and dance.”
But after an investigation by police and county forensic teams — which included searches of both personal and school technology — “the alleged images were never discovered,” the letter said. Putting a finer point on it, the letter said that “no evidence shared with law enforcement depicted anything inappropriate or any other related crime.”
Batchelor, Flanagan and MacNamara also cautioned that “the spread of rumors and misinformation on social media is causing additional harm and stress to all involved. Furthermore, speculation and false claims undermine the privacy and well-being of all our students and families.”
Still, the officials said the high school is partnering with Radnor police to conduct an educational program for students in the coming weeks that underscores the consequences of “taking, copying, or creating images of other students or staff without their consent.”
Juvenile faces harassment charge
Despite school and police officials indicating that no crime took place, Radnor police issued a press release on Jan. 23 saying that a juvenile had been charged with harassment. That charge, police said, was the result of the investigation into “the possible use of AI to generate non-consensual sexualized imagery of multiple juveniles” in the township.
When asked by Fideri News Network why a harassment charge was filed despite the letter’s assurance that “no evidence shared with law enforcement depicted anything inappropriate or any other related crime,” Radnor Township School District said the statement in question was issued by Radnor Township police — and any queries should be directed toward the police department.
Flanagan, however, responded to the same question by stating that “Radnor Police is referring all press to Delaware County DA’s office.” The county district attorney’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
