From cbsnews.com
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.
School principal was framed using AI-generated racist rant, police say. A co-worker is now charged.
By Christian Olaniran, Jessica Albert
Updated on: April 26, 2024 / 8:10 AM EDT / CBS Baltimore
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.
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