KITCHENER - Waterloo Regional Police say they are conducting a child pornography investigation at a Kitchener elementary school after naked photographs of students were sent to other students through social media sites via mobile phones.

Some of the students bullied other students by threatening to extort them to gain favours or opportunities, said Staff Sergeant Mike Haffner.

The students were mostly in Grade 7 and 8 and there were younger students and it involved more than one school, he said.

"They were creating it, possessing it and transmitting it," Haffner said.

Police would not identify the school.

The activity came to light last Thursday and school officials contacted police.

This week, a resource officer with Waterloo Regional Police has been at the school, interviewing students. Wireless devices, including phones, have been seized, said Youth Sergeant Mike Allard.

Allard said some of the photos depicted full frontal nudes and in others, faces were visible.

"The main concern is that some of the pictures may be able to identify someone," he said. "If this gets posted on the Internet, these pictures can go anywhere in the world."

"It can ruin someone's life," he said.

Allard said it's imperative that parents know how their children are using the Internet. And it doesn't mean that students need a phone. If they have a mobile device and Wi-Fi, they can send pictures to each other, he said.

Allard said the resource officer is speaking to students to ensure they understand how transmitting photographs of minors is a criminal offence.

"It has been traumatic for them," he said.

Allard said the incident is a good opportunity to educate students on the consequences of sending naked photos of their peers to others, for both students and their parents.

Peter Rubenschuh, assistant superintendent at the Waterloo Region District School Board, said the incident reminds school officials that using digital tools appropriately must be continually reinforced with students, and parents must be involved in the process.

"We take this very seriously," he said. "Cyber bullying is bullying."

Along with the police, the administrations at the schools are conducting their own investigation and discipline could involve suspension.

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"Using social media to extort or illicit favour is highly inappropriate. We want to send a clear message but it (suspension) can't be the only consequence," he said

"Yes, this is a challenge but an opportunity as well," Rubenschuh said.

He also refused to name the schools involved or how many students were sending nude photos.