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Mitcham Girls students suspended over internet video

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has weighed in on the crude video scandal, which has seen five students from a high school in Adelaide's eastern suburbs suspended.

During a visit to Adelaide Oval today, the Prime Minister said the issue highlighted the perils of the internet.

"For the individual girls involved, this was a very, very silly thing to do, and they’re now caught up in the consequences of it," she said.

"It’s also got its dangers, and that’s why this conduct was very silly by the girls involved."

"We are working around the country to put a highlight on the dangers that can be there," she said.

South Australian Police Commissioner, Mal Hyde, said he was unsure whether the girls would face charges over the video.

"The matter’s been referred to police, I don’t want to say charges are or are not possible, that’s for the investigators to determine,"

"But I think it’s really unfortunate that the girls haven’t realized the consequences of what they’ve done... People don’t understand how it can be copied, uploaded and changed."

"The laws are very strict when it comes anything that is related to underage sex, so people might think that it’s funny or whatever to send friends something which might have a sexual nature to it, but they could actually be committing offences," Commissioner Hyde said.

Going viral

The video has gone viral, already shared on social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

While it has since been pulled down on YouTube, in the space of 24 hours it received over 10,000 hits.

While copies on social websites are being removed, new versions of the video are being uploaded just as quickly.

In the video, three girls are wearing Mitcham Girls School uniforms and offer oral sex for 80 cents while they joke and occasionally laugh.

At one point they say, "We are trained professionals, so we are up for anything,"

Another two girls were involved, one reportedly filmed the video, while another was involved in producing it.

South Australian Police have confirmed they are now involved, but say it is unlikely the girls will face any criminal charges.

Officers are yet to conduct any formal interviews with the five girls, but say it appears the girls filmed the video as a stunt, and were unaware of the repercussions.

Last year six education sessions about online safety had been given by police at Mitcham Girls School.

Police say they are concerned the cyber safety message is not getting through to students.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said the video had been given to police.

"The Department can confirm an incident has occurred involving students publishing an inappropriate video online,"

"The school has informed the parents of the students involved of the incident,"

"Mitcham Girls High School has a strict cyber safety policy in place and has reinforced this with students and parents to remind them of the importance of using the internet in a safe manner."