MARYLAND HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC COACH USED AI TO CLONE PRINCIPAL'S VOICE AND FRAME HIM: AUTHORITIES
A man has been arrested for allegedly trying to frame a school principal for using racial slurs. Baltimore County Police arrested Dazhon Darien, a former high school athletic director, who allegedly cloned the school principal's voice using AI to frame him for using racial slurs, PEOPLE reported.
County Chief of Police Robert McCollough stated at a press conference that the 31-year-old suspect was allegedly trying to board a flight with a firearm before getting arrested. The Maryland Transportation Authority allegedly stopped Darien after discovering that he had an active warrant out for his arrest and took him into custody.
Darien was charged with disturbing school activities, theft, retaliation against a witness, and stalking. Darien is accused of using an AI-backed deep voice tech to create a sound clip of the principal uttering racial slurs and then spread it on social media, NBC News reported.
“It not only led to Eisworth's temporary removal from the school but also triggered a wave of hate-filled messages on social media and numerous calls to the school. The recording also caused significant disruptions for the PHS staff and students,” the charging document stated, The Baltimore Banner reported.
McCollough claimed that investigators found “conclusive evidence that the recording was not authentic.” Two forensic analysts also allegedly found that the recording was generated through the use of artificial intelligence tools.
A.I. USED TO FRAME WHITE PRINCIPAL:
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) April 25, 2024
Pikesville High principal Eric Eiswert was CAUGHT on tape having a racist rant.
People called for him to lose his job.
The only problem?
The whole recording was AI-generated.
Dazhon Darien, former athletic director (Pikesville) was… pic.twitter.com/E6bSbH7TQq
Dazhon is accused of using the computers at school to search for AI tech to clone the voice of the principal. Investigators, officials said, uncovered more information that allegedly connected Darien to the case after they found an email connected to the social media account where the audio clip was initially posted. That account was used to circulate the clip, which reportedly caused Eisworth to step down from his position as principal, and also triggered a severe backlash against him in the local community.
McCollough said Darien had leaked the fake audio "to retaliate" against Eisworth because the principal had placed him under investigation earlier in 2024 for allegedly mismanaging the school's finances.
Teacher arrested, accused of using AI to falsely paint boss as racist and antisemitic...
— Samuel J. Rosenfeld 🇺🇸 תביא אותם הביתה... (@SamjLondon) April 26, 2024
Dazhon Darien, a physical education teacher and the athletic director at Pikesville High School in Maryland, created a fake audio recording of the principal spewing hateful comments,… pic.twitter.com/q20OQBCP4S
While the audio clip is still being looked into, Eisworth has temporarily stepped down from his duties, WBAL-TV reported. He was given police protection at his home after he started receiving threatening messages following the circulation of the fake audio. “The school leadership expressed that staff did not feel safe, which required an increase in police presence at the school to address safety concerns and fears,” police told The Baltimore Banner. Another teacher, Shaena Ravenell, who taught English at the school and is also accused of helping Darien spread the fake audio, according to officials, submitted her resignation to the school board along with Darien.