Epstein link sparks Dearborn schools to pause Lifetouch photo sessions

Dearborn Public Colleges introduced on Monday, February 16, that it’s pausing all Lifetouch faculty photograph classes whereas pupil privateness issues associated to the corporate’s company possession are investigated.

The issues seem like associated to Lifetouch’s father or mother firm, Shutterfly, through which funding funds managed by personal fairness agency Apollo International Administration have a stake. Former Apollo CEO Leon Black has been publicly linked to the Jeffrey Epstein information, sparking hypothesis in regards to the images practices of Lifetouch college students.

In a letter to households, the district mentioned the choice comes after “current issues circulating on social media relating to company possession and managerial ties associated to Lifetouch’s father or mother firm” and historic monetary connections involving a significant shareholder.

The district emphasizes that no pupil information breaches have been reported and that pupil privateness stays a high precedence.

“Out of an abundance of warning, the district has determined to pause all scheduled images classes and providers with Lifetouch presently whereas we conduct a radical investigation into these issues,” the letter mentioned.

Dearborn Colleges mentioned it’s also exploring different images suppliers to make sure information privateness requirements are met.

“We’re simply being proactive till we have now all of the information,” David Mustonen, communications director for Dearborn Public Colleges, instructed the Free Press. “We do not need to alarm anybody. … That is one thing that was a number of layers faraway from Lifetouch, the precise firm itself, so we’re not making an attempt to scare anybody or alarm mother and father.”

Lifetouch mentioned in a public statement from Group CEO Ken Murphy that Apollo performs no function in enterprise operations and that nobody employed by Apollo has entry to pupil photos.

Extra: Mother and father sought Jeffrey Epstein’s assist to get youngsters to UM, data present

“When Lifetouch photographers take a photograph of your pupil, that picture is secure for households and faculties solely, with no exceptions,” Murphy mentioned within the assertion. “Lifetouch is just not talked about within the Epstein information. The paperwork don’t include any allegations that Lifetouch itself was concerned in, or that pupil images have been utilized in, unlawful actions.”

Nour Rahal is a trending and pioneering information reporter. E-mail her: nrahal@freepress.com. Observe her on Twitter @nrahal1.