A Baltimore high school athletic director was arrested and charged Thursday with using artificial intelligence to impersonate the principal in audio recordings that included derogatory comments about students and staff, authorities announced.
Pikesville High School physical education teacher and athletic director Dazon Darien is accused of using artificial intelligence software to alter audio recordings of Principal Eric Eiswart, according to Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough. There is. The hoax recording went viral after it went viral on social media in January, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation among the Baltimore County Public Schools community.
“We have conclusive evidence that the recordings are not genuine. The Baltimore County Police Department reached that determination after conducting an extensive investigation,” McCullough said at a news conference Thursday. “Based on these findings and further investigation, it has been determined that the recordings were generated through the use of artificial intelligence technology.”
Darien, 31, was arrested Thursday and faces multiple charges including theft, stalking, obstructing school operations and retaliating against a witness, police said. After a court appearance Thursday afternoon, Darien was released on $5,000 unsecured bail.
Baltimore County Attorney Scott Shellenberger said Thursday that the case appears to be one of the first of its kind in the nation. He noted that the state Legislature needs to update the law to incorporate new technology.
The Baltimore case is the latest in a surge of misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools across the country. Most cases involve “deepfakes,” or AI-generated synthetic media, which are images, videos, and audio that digitally manipulate an individual’s appearance, voice, and movements.
Schools have struggled to police the technology over the past year, with middle school and high school boys using AI to create nude photos of their classmates. Some cases resulted in arrests, while others faced less serious consequences due to differences in district policies and state laws.
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Police: “The fake recording may have been made in retaliation for the school investigation''
Baltimore County police began investigating Eiswart on January 17 after audio recordings were allegedly posted on Instagram of him making racist and anti-Semitic comments about students and staff. The recording caused a massive reaction online and prompted an investigation by the school district.
In the recording, the voice states that black students cannot “try their way out of a paper bag” and wonders “how difficult it is to get these students to meet grade level expectations.” did. The recording also included derogatory comments about Jews and mentioned the names of staff members who “never should have been hired.”
The Baltimore Banner reported that school officials believe Eiswart made the discriminatory remarks. The report said Eiswart denied making the comments and said he has not worked at the school since the investigation began.
McCullough said that as part of the police investigation, investigators worked with the FBI and forensic analysts from the University of California, Berkeley, and determined the recording was not authentic. “Analysis shows that the recordings contain traces of AI-generated content,” McCullough said.
McCullough said police believe Darien fabricated the recording in retaliation against Eiswart, who was investigating possible student fraud at the time.
Maryland Department of Transportation officials took Darien into custody Thursday morning at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, McCullough said. As Darien was about to board the plane, he was stopped and questioned about how he had packed the firearm he had declared.
Officers investigated Darien's background and an open arrest warrant was issued, McCullough added.
Baltimore County Public Schools said in a statement that the district is taking “appropriate action” in response to Darien's actions, including recommending suspension.
The Rise of Deepfakes: “Entering a Deeply Concerning New Frontier”
Deepfakes are often used maliciously or to spread misinformation. According to the Center for Democratic Technology, AI-generated synthetic media has already been proven to have a negative impact on schools, with students creating deepfakes of their peers in intimate poses, mocking and bullying each other. “It has been done.” In some cases, students created deepfakes of their teachers.
“It's clear that we are entering a new and very alarming frontier,” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said Thursday. “While we continue to embrace emerging technology and its potential for innovation and social benefit, we must also remain vigilant against those who exploit it with malicious intent.”
Last April, a student in Houston, Texas, was accused of digitally altering a photo of his teacher and sharing the explicit image online, FOX 26 Houston reported.
In December, two middle school boys in Florida were arrested on suspicion of using an AI app to create nude photos of their 12- to 13-year-old classmates, according to arrest warrants. The boys were charged with third-degree felonies under a 2022 state law.
And in February, school administrators accused a Beverly Hills, Calif., middle school student of using AI to create fake nude photos of his classmates, according to NBC News. The superintendent told NBC News that the image included the student's face digitally altered onto a nude body.
Contributors: Zachary Schermele and Natasha Lovato, USA TODAY