At the Koninklijk Atheneum Berchem, students created and shared a deepfake video depicting a teacher in an explicit, fabricated scenario, sparking outrage and serious consequences. The incident has led to the cancellation or postponement of a “100 days to graduation” celebration and a police complaint filed by the teacher. School staff, students, and parents are now engaging in discussions about responsibility and the misuse of AI tools as the case may proceed to juvenile justice.
According to reporting from VRT NWS and Belgian media, the episode began when a group of pupils used artificial intelligence techniques to produce a deepfake video portraying one of their teachers in a compromising, non-realistic way, which quickly circulated among fellow students. The teacher has filed an official complaint with police, and authorities may bring the students — some as young minors — before the juvenile court system.
The fallout has extended beyond legal steps: one of the school’s traditional celebrations marking the final stretch of the academic year (the “100 days” festivities) was postponed, and there are ongoing conversations within the school community about ethics, respect, and the responsible use of AI. Rather than merely punishing youths for misuse of technology, educators are emphasizing dialogue and media literacy to prevent future harms.