Justice on the move

Girls’ ranking: all data secured

The schoolgirls were arbitrarily ranked according to popularity and appearance - many of them are now nervous and feel ashamed

(Bild: APA/dpa/Julian Stratenschulte)

The arbitrary assessment of popularity and appearance using stolen images and names of 223 female pupils in the upper school of a large high school in Linz has far-reaching consequences. It is now up to the judiciary to assess what action should be taken against the perpetrator(s). The data for the investigation has been secured.

"We will talk to all the girls and boys at the school about the incident and deal with it," promises Director of Education Alfred Klampfer, after a homepage with the pictures and names of the senior pupils at the Auhof Grammar School in Linz, ranked by popularity, was found on the internet.

The as yet unknown author took the website with the stolen data off the net again after two hours, he must have realized what he had triggered: many girls, but also their parents, took the indiscriminate ranking very much to heart, some even no longer want to go to school out of shame.

The investigation continues
The police investigation into the incident continues today. All relevant data has been secured and the investigators assume that they will soon be able to track down the "joker". A corresponding incident report has also been sent to the Linz public prosecutor's office, which will now take over the legal assessment of the case and then decide on further investigative steps.