A Maryland high school athletic director, Dazhon Darien, has been arrested for allegedly using artificial intelligence (AI) to create racist and antisemitic audio in the voice of his boss, Pikesville Principal Eric Eiswert. The recording was made in retaliation against Eiswert, who was investigating Darien’s potential mishandling of school funds. The Baltimore County police, along with the FBI and a forensic analyst from the University of California, Berkeley, determined that the audio recording was fabricated. In the recording, a fake version of Eiswert is heard making derogatory comments about African American and Jewish families at the school, as well as criticizing specific teachers.
The audio recording caused significant disruptions at Pikesville High School, leading to hate-filled messages on social media directed at Eiswert and numerous calls to the school. Eiswert was temporarily removed from his position as a result of the recording. Baltimore County School Superintendent Myriam Rogers stated that the administrative process to discipline Darien has begun, and the school is investigating other teachers who were involved in spreading the audio. Darien is facing charges including theft, stalking, disruption of school operations, and retaliation against a witness. After a court appearance, he was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
The investigation into the fake audio recording began on January 17, 2024, after it was circulated on social media. Robert McCullough, chief of Baltimore County police, stated at a press conference that the police conducted an extensive investigation, with the help of the FBI and a forensic analyst, to determine the authenticity of the recording. It was concluded that the audio was indeed artificial intelligence-generated and not a legitimate recording of Eiswert. The recording depicted a conversation between Eiswert and one of the school’s Assistant Principals, discussing frustrations with the test scores of African American students and making disparaging remarks about Jewish individuals.
The ramifications of the fake audio recording were severe, causing disruptions for Pikesville High School staff and students, as well as leading to hate-filled messages and social media backlash against Eiswert. The recording not only impacted the school environment but also led to the temporary removal of Eiswert from his position. Authorities are taking action against Darien and other involved individuals to address the situation. Baltimore County School and the Baltimore District Attorney’s office have not yet responded to media inquiries about the incident. The case highlights the potential misuse of artificial intelligence technology to create harmful and deceptive content.
