Home Baltimore school principal targeted in faked audio AI scam

Baltimore school principal targeted in faked audio AI scam

tl;dr

  • Former athletics director arrested for AI-based impersonation of a high school principal.
  • The accused used AI to make it sound as though the principal was making offensive remarks.
  • The ex-A.D. has been charged with disrupting the school’s activities.

In Baltimore, Maryland a former high school sports director has been arrested for using artificial intelligence to impersonate a principal, making the public believe he had made racist and anti-semitic comments.

Dazhon Darien was detained by Baltimore County Police after he targeted the head of Pikesville High School, Eric Eiswert.

As revealed by the Baltimore Banner, an audio clip was posted to a prominent Instagram account, revealing offensive remarks referencing “ungrateful Black kids” and their academic performance, and another comment containing a threat to “join the other side” if the speaker received one more complaint from “one more Jew in this community”.

The recording also featured the names of other staff members, suggesting they should not have been hired and opining they should be removed “one way or another.” Darien’s nickname, “DJ,” was featured too.

Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed Darien has been charged with disrupting school activities after he was found to have faked the voice of Eiswert and spread the content online. The police said the perpetrator accessed school networks to search for and utilize AI programs to develop the fake audio.

Darien was also traced to an email account which was used to distribute the faked audio.

How the Pikesville High School scam was found to be fake

As expected, the leaked audio led to uproar from students and the wider school community, with many believing the principal had made the comments. A Pikesville teacher named Shaena Ravanell is said to have played a key role in forwarding the clip. She has not been charged but police made clear she was known to have sent the content to a student who was known to be able to rapidly disseminate information via social media.

The student amplified the reach of the audio clip, including sending it to media outlets and the Baltimore-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Experts have indicated there was steadfast evidence to show the purported voice of EIswert in the clip was AI-generated. They pointed out its flat tone, distinct clear background sounds and the absence of consistent breathing noises or pauses, as typical features of AI.

Image credit: Ideogram

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Graeme Hanna
Tech Journalist

Graeme Hanna is a full-time, freelance writer with significant experience in online news as well as content writing. Since January 2021, he has contributed as a football and news writer for several mainstream UK titles including The Glasgow Times, Rangers Review, Manchester Evening News, MyLondon, Give Me Sport, and the Belfast News Letter. Graeme has worked across several briefs including news and feature writing in addition to other significant work experience in professional services. Now a contributing news writer at ReadWrite.com, he is involved with pitching relevant content for publication as well as writing engaging tech news stories.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.