Current:Home > MarketsSchool principal was framed using AI-generated racist rant, police say. A co-worker is now charged.-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
School principal was framed using AI-generated racist rant, police say. A co-worker is now charged.
lotradecoin two-factor authentication setup View Date:2024-12-25 16:18:11
BALTIMORE -- A former high school athletic director was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly using artificial intelligence to impersonate the school principal in a recording that included racist and antisemitic comments about individuals at the school.
Dazhon Darien is facing charges including theft, stalking, disruption of school operations and retaliation against a witness.
Investigators determined he faked principal Eric Eiswert's voice and circulated the audio on social media in January. Darien's nickname, DJ, was among the names mentioned in the audio clips he allegedly faked, according to the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office.
Baltimore County detectives say Darien created the recording as retaliation against Eiswert, who had launched an investigation into the potential mishandling of school funds, Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough said on Thursday.
Eiswert's voice, which police and AI experts believe was simulated, made disparaging comments toward Black students and the surrounding Jewish community. The audio was widely circulated on social media.
Baltimore County Police said Darien was at the airport trying to get on a flight to Houston when he was arrested. He had a firearm on him at the time, according to police.
"Mr. Darien was stopped because of the way his declared firearm was packaged when officers looked into his background they learned he had an open arrest warrant," McCullough said.
Race-based commentary
On the audio clip, a voice that mimicked Principal Eiswert made race-based commentary, including statements that African-American students were unable to "test their way out of a paper bag," according to charging documents.
There were also comments about Jewish individuals and two teachers who "should never have been hired at the school." Police said the recording depicted a phony conversation between Eiswert and one of the school's assistant principals.
The clip's viral circulation on social media had significant repercussions. Eiswert was temporarily removed from the school, and waves of hate-filled messages circulated on social media, while the school received numerous phone calls.
Recording's authenticity was questioned
After a meeting, Eiswert told police he believed the audio clip was falsified using AI. According to charging documents, Eiswert told police that he believed Darien was responsible. He said that Darien was "technologically savvy and believed he was familiar with AI," and that there had been conversations with Darien about his contract not being renewed the following semester due to frequent work performance challenges.
Interviews with multiple administrators at Pikesville High School revealed that Darien had multiple work-related issues since he began his role as athletic director in July 2023. Police said Darien had been reprimanded for terminating a long-standing coach at the school without approval.
Investigators say Darien had accessed the school's network multiple times in December and January, performing online searches for OpenAI tools - which police linked to paid OpenAI accounts.
A forensic analyst and university professor contracted by the FBI conducted an audio analysis of the file. The results determined that the recording contained traces of AI-generated content, with human editing that added background noises for realism after the fact, according to the charging documents. Another expert at the University of California, Berkley, analyzed the audio and also determined that it was manipulated.
Response from school leadership
"As you can imagine, this has been a very difficult time for Pikesville High School community, principal Eiswert and his family, and team BCPS. We are incredibly proud of the students and staff and how they have stepped up to support one another," Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers said. "As I said then, and it bears repeating, the statements on the recording do not reflect the core values of our system."
Rogers added that the county is taking "appropriate action" following Darien's arrest, "up to and including a recommendation for termination."
Christian OlaniranChristian Olaniran is a Digital Producer for CBS News Baltimore, where he writes stories on diverse topics including politics, arts, culture, sports and more. He also creates engaging social media content to complement news coverage.
Twitter InstagramveryGood! (5697)
Related
- Meta kills off misinformation tracking tool CrowdTangle despite pleas from researchers, journalists
- Emmy Awards: A partial list of top winners
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Breakup Song
- Taylor Swift's Mom Andrea Swift Wears Sweet Tribute to Travis Kelce at Chiefs Game
- Wisconsin’s Evers urges federal judge not to make changes at youth prison in wake of counselor death
- Federal judge temporarily blocks Biden administration rule to limit flaring of gas at oil wells
- Hailey Bieber's Dad Stephen Baldwin Describes Her and Justin Bieber's Baby Boy Jack
- 2024 Emmys: Why Fans Aren't Happy With Jimmy Kimmel's Bob Newhart In Memoriam Tribute
- Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey announce engagement with new photos
- Emmys 2024: See All the Celebrity Red Carpet Fashion
Ranking
- A stowaway groundhog is elevated to local icon
- 2024 Emmys: Baby Reindeer's Nava Mau Details Need for Transgender Representation in Tearful Interview
- Texas QB Quinn Ewers exits with injury. Arch Manning steps in against Texas-San Antonio
- Hispanic Heritage Month puts diversity and culture at the forefront
- Charlie Sheen’s Daughter Sami Sheen Undergoes Plastic Surgery for Droopy Nose
- Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga fight card results, round-by-round analysis
- 2024 Emmys: Zuri Hall Details Custom Red Carpet Gown She Designed
- MLB playoffs: Does 'hot team' reign supreme or will favorites get their mojo back?
Recommendation
-
Las Vegas police could boycott working NFL games over new facial ID policy
-
Mike Tyson says he's training hard for Jake Paul fight: 'It's hard to walk right now'
-
Tropical Storm Ileana makes landfall on Mexico’s Sinaloa coast after pounding Los Cabos
-
What did the Texans trade for Stefon Diggs? Revisiting Houston's deal for former Bills WR
-
Detroit judge orders sleepy teenage girl on field trip to be handcuffed, threatens jail
-
Officer involved in Tyreek Hill traffic stop has history of complaints over use of force
-
In Honduras, Libertarians and Legal Claims Threaten to Bankrupt a Nation
-
2024 Emmys: Joshua Jackson Gives Sweet Shoutout to Beautiful Daughter Juno