A Baltimore high school athletic director was arrested after he allegedly used artificial intelligence to create a hoax centered on the school’s principal, police said.
Police arrested a Baltimore high school athletic director Thursday after they said they discovered he allegedly used artificial intelligence to create a phony audio recording of the school’s principal that went viral and cost the school leader his job temporarily and his safety.
Principal Eric Eisworth was removed from his position at Pikesville High School after the school district began investigating the audio clip that was circulated among staff and social media in January where it appeared Eisworth made racist comments against Black and Jewish persons, investigators allege.
The three-month probe, which involved local police and the FBI, concluded that the audio was forged using AI tools by Dazhon Darien, the athletic director at the school, according to Baltimore Chief of Police Robert McCollough.
« Detectives alleged Mr. Darien…made the recording to retaliate against the principal who had launched an investigation into the potential mishandling of school funds, » McCollough told reporters at a news conference Thursday.
The situation began on Jan. 16, when the recording that appeared to be a conversation between Eisworth and an assistant principal first circulated, according to the charging documents.
In the audio, Eisworth allegedly claimed Black students were unable to « test their way out of a paper bag » and made « disparaging comments » about Jewish individuals and two teachers, the charging document said.
Investigators said the audio had « profound repercussions » for Eisworth and the school community.
