Schoolgirls from at least three Illawarra high schools are among those targeted by a pornographic photo-sharing website that police are powerless to stop as it is hosted overseas.
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The graphic chat forum features thousands of nude photos of non-consenting students shared by boys and men who appear to know them.
Users – most who post anonymously – request and swap pictures of girls by name, and ask for photos of girls from particular schools, post codes and regions.
They refer to nude image uploads as “dumps” and “wins”, and while it is unclear how the men and boys have obtained the photos many appear to know the girls whose photos they are requesting.
In a thread about Wollongong, which appears to be one in a series, at least three high schools are named.
There are also specific requests for the “hottest gong chicks” from Dapto, Berkeley, Warilla, the university and postcodes 2517 and 2518.
NSW Police have joined Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Federal Police in investigating the site but are powerless to pull it down because it is hosted overseas.
“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,” a police statement said.
They have advised anyone who believes their photo has been posted on the site to contact police.
The Wollongong Catholic Education Office said it had been informed about the chat site on Tuesday night, when two Sydney schools which fall into its diocese area were named in a media report.
Spokesman Tim Gilmour said the schools and diocese had been working closely with police and to support any students affected.
“Our first response was to any of the students who were subject to this offensive behaviour,” he said.
“The safety and wellbeing of our students is absolutely our top priority, and if parents believe their child has been impacted in any way by this behaviour, their first response should be to contact the police.
“In our schools for some time, we’ve had regular programs and curriculum materials around the idea of cyber-safety and protecting your images, and in many of our schools we have had great success.”
The NSW Department of Education did not answer questions about Illawarra schools, but issued a statement from a department spokesperson to say it was “liaising with NSW police”.
“We encourage parents and students who have concerns to contact their local police,” the statement said.
“NSW public schools will provide confidential support and counselling to any student affected.
“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.”
- with Rachel Olding SMH.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
