VICTIMS and their parents have expressed outrage at the depraved pornography ring targeting school students and young women, as yet more disturbing material has been uncovered and more schools have been added to the list of over 70 targeted.
Thousands of graphic images have been posted and traded on the site including one of a girl in her school uniform performing oral sex, and other nude images where the victims appear to be unaware they are being photographed.
Victims have pleaded to have their nude photos taken down, including one girl who states that she is just 14 in the image. The men have responded by calling the victims “sluts†and “dumb c**ts†and telling them they have no one but themselves to blame.
Further investigations have also uncovered more schools being targeted by the ring, including The Knox School in Melbourne, Wheelers Hill Secondary College in Victoria, Shenton College in Perth and Calamvale Community college in Queensland.
News.com.au has spoken with a mother of a 13-year-old girl who was targeted on the site. The mother, who is from Melbourne says that she was “absolutely disgusted and terrified†when she realised that men were trawling for images specifically of her daughter.
“I felt completely helpless because I didn’t know what to do. These are disgusting monsters who are colluding together to extract images from these girls.
“My daughter is too young to understand the gravity of this. For now she is embarrassed, confused and feels intimidated.
“They were like a pack of hungry vultures whose appetite was suppressed only when they had humiliated and dehumanised a girl. This was not so much for sexual urges but a game of control and abuse.â€
While the 13-year-old has never taken or shared nude photographs of herself, the mother is still very anxious about her current safety and wellbeing.
“I feel really scared and nervous about how this might open the door to other predators. [When I learned my daughter was a potential target] I felt very vulnerable and very worried about how it would impact on her and very concerned about the level of violation that other girls on the site are also facing.â€
“As parents we must fight back with every ounce of strength we can muster to ensure that our girls feel safe and validated. What is happening in our society for boys and men to think that it’s OK to dehumanise young girls like that?
“These boys think they are looking at boobs, but behind those boobs is a heart that belongs to a human being who has feelings†said the mother.
“They are compartmentalising girls’ bodies, but they are not thinking about the rest of the human being that is attached to that clitoris.†she said.
One 15-year-old girl who attends a Queensland school listed on the site says she was “shocked and sickened†to realise that boys in her school were allegedly involved.
“I was scared that there was a whole community dedicated to humiliating and violating girl’s privacy,†she said.
Meanwhile, yet more nude photos of young women have been added to the site since yesterday and more girls’ names have appeared on target lists.
Sharna Bremner from End Rape on Campus said: “This isn’t just about telling girls not to take nude photos, after all some of these photos appear to be taken without the girl’s knowledge or consent.
“This is predatory behaviour of men and boys who are stalking girls, and parents should be talking to their sons just as much as their daughters.
“Realising that someone you thought you could trust has violated you in this way and reduced you to nothing more than a trophy would be absolutely crushing.â€
The site encourages boys and men to list the names of girls they are seeking to extract nude images from, and any users who already have nude images of those girls will offer to post or trade them in exchange for other images of other victims.
Since yesterday, some of the images of very young looking girls have disappeared from the site.
Various schools on the list have issued statements including St Clare’s College in the ACT. The Acting Principal, Natalie Dickie, says that the news coverage points to a “systemic, planned and deeply offensive use of other people’s images without their consent†adding “I am as distressed as you would have been to read those reports.â€
An Australian Federal Police spokeswoman said authorities are investigating.
“The AFP is currently liaising with its domestic and international law enforcement partners and relevant government agencies to evaluate this matter and to determine appropriate courses of action,†she said.
“It is important to note that creating, accessing or distributing child pornography is a serious offence, even if you are a child yourself.â€
“Child pornography offences have a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.â€
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is also being urged by concerned members of the public to shut down the website by any means necessary.
FULL LIST OF SCHOOLS IDENTIFIED ON THE SITE BY STATE
NEW SOUTH WALES
Blaxland High School
Colo High School
Eastview High School
Elderslie High School
Elizabeth Macarthur High School
Francis Greenway High School
Grafton High School
Greenpoint Christian College
Holsworthy High School
Ingleburn High School
John Therry Catholic High School
Lake Munmorah High School
Leumeah High School
Lisarow High School
Magdelene Catholic High School
Maitland High School
Mount Annan High NSW
Mullumbimby High School
Plumpton High School
Rutherford Technology High School
South Grafton High School
St Catherine’s Catholic College, Singleton
St Lukes Grammar School
St Patricks College, Campbelltown
The Jannali High School
Thomas Hassall Anglican College
Turramurra High School
Wenona
Wyong High School
QUEENSLAND
Allhallows’ School
Caloundra State High School
Cavendish Road State High School
Clontarf Beach State High School
Grace Lutheran College
Grace Lutheran College
Kirwan State High School
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Miami State High School
Ormiston College
Redlands College
Runcorn State High School Wins
Ryan Catholic College
Sheldon College
Southern Cross Catholic College, Redcliffe
Springwood State High School
St Andrews Anglican College QLD
Woodridge State High School
VICTORIA
Bacchus Marsh Grammar School
Bairnsdale Secondary College
Bayswater Secondary College
Carrum Downs High School
Christian College Geelong- Surf Coast Campus
Frankston High school
Hillcrest Christian College
Kambrya College
Lakeside College, Pakenham
Lilydale High School
Norwood secondary college
Pakenham Secondary College
Patterson River secondary
Ringwood Secondary College
The Knox School
Werribee Secondary College
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Glossop High School
Thomas More College
WA
Shenton College
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Canberra College
Gungahlin College
Radford College
St Clares College Canberra
St Mary MacKillop College
Trinity Christian School
TASMANIA
Claremont College
Montrose Bay High School
If you have further information or would like to report concerns contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual assault or exploitation support is available at 1800 RESPECT and Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.