US EditionEpstein Ties to Former Lifetouch CEO Prompt Dearborn Schools to Cancel Photo Day
- On Monday, Feb. 16, Dearborn Public Schools paused all Lifetouch photo days after learning of ties between the company’s former CEO and Jeffrey Epstein, assuring families that no student data breaches have occurred.
- Viral social-media posts tied Lifetouch to the released Epstein files, prompting districts to cancel photo plans after Apollo Global Management acquired Shutterfly while Leon Black led Apollo.
- Company statements emphasized compliance with FERPA and that images are safeguarded, never shared or used for AI training, Ken Murphy, Lifetouch Group CEO, said Friday.
- Parents expressed worry about data tied to photo orders, prompting petitions, while districts including Malakoff ISD, Texas school district, and an Arizona charter school canceled scheduled Lifetouch photos.
- An independent Apollo review found no evidence of Black’s involvement in criminal activity, and the $2.7 billion deal for Shutterfly closed one month after Epstein’s death, Black stepped down in 2021.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Schools cancel photos after Epstein claims
MALAKOFF, Texas — Some school districts in the U.S. dropped plans for class pictures after widespread social media posts linked a billionaire with ties to Jeffrey Epstein to the photography giant Lifetouch, which called the claims "completely false."
Local schools review Lifetouch photography vendor contracts amid parent concerns
School officials across the state are canceling contracts with a nationally known school photography company following social media scrutiny surrounding possible company connections to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Texas schools announce plans to drop student photo vendor over links to Epstein files
At least half a dozen Texas schools have pledged to either change or cancel plans to use a popular student photo vendor due to parental concerns after a former executive was mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein files. #Texas #SchoolPictures #EpsteinFiles
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