Safegaurding query

[ThisSunnyPinkEagle]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice and support.

My son (secondary school) has recently been the subject of a very serious rumour claiming he created and shared a deepfake video of two other students. He has strongly denied this.

We have thoroughly checked all of his devices and found absolutely no evidence of any such video, nor any communication with the two students involved (they are not in his class and are not friends).

Importantly, one of the girls who was supposedly in the video has also stated that our son has nothing to do with it.

We immediately raised this with the school. Their initial findings suggest that no such video appears to exist and that this may be a malicious rumour intended to damage his reputation. The school is continuing to investigate where it originated.

However, in the meantime, the impact on him has been devastating. He is receiving constant messages and calls from peers questioning him, accusing him, and even sending comments like “you’re so dead.”

The level of harassment feels relentless and is significantly affecting his mental health.

If the school is unable to identify who started this, what options do we have to escalate the matter?

Has anyone dealt with something similar and can advise on next steps?

Thank you in advance.

This is really confusing - the school are saying no such video exists but the girl is saying its nothing to do with your son? That seems like a contradiction.

Do you have the means to contact the girls parents to try to find out more?

I'd be asking the school if this has been referred to police (as would be normal process) as really they should be investigating alongside the school if it involves the sharing of illegal images of minors and you may wish to contact them yourself independently.

Please contact the police. Cyber bullying is a crime. The school does not have the technical capabilities or rights to quickly get to the bottom of it. Let the school know you are doing it and it sounds like they would be supportive.

www.cps.gov.uk/prosecution-guidance/cybercrime-prosecution-guidance#_Toc25919493

From what we have gathered so far, no such video exists and no one has actually seen it. The school’s initial enquiries appear to support this.

Given the seriousness of the allegation, I am wildly confused why the other children’s parents did not raise this directly with the school.
As the time when we raised it, the school was completely unaware of this situation.

This combined with the fact that none of the other children have seen any such video or have been able to produce it; supports my view that this was designed to be a malicious rumour created to tarnish DS's reputation.

If there is no evidence of any illegal images, would the police still get involved?

Yes - because your son is receiving messages that are harassing him and containing threats like “you’re so dead”..