A former athletic director at a Baltimore-area high school was apprehended Thursday morning and indicted for employing artificial intelligence to forge antisemitic and racist remarks allegedly spoken by the school’s headmaster. This case is part of a concerning trend of AI-generated impersonation incidents, which specialists contend is a newfound concern in a growing and sparsely regulated technological landscape. This instance of fabricating antisemitic remarks to tarnish a public figure’s reputation is highly unusual. According to the Baltimore Banner, a local nonprofit news organization, Baltimore County police have charged Dazhon Darien, formerly of Pikesville High School, with disrupting school activities. Authorities allege that Darien exploited the school’s network to access OpenAI software, enabling him to simulate a recording purportedly made by Principal Eric Eiswert. In the doctored recording, a voice resembling Eiswert’s states, ‘If I have to get one more complaint from one more Jew in this community, I’m going to join the other side.’ Additionally, the voice made disparaging remarks about Black students. Pikesville is situated at the heart of Baltimore’s larger Jewish community. In January, the recording was widely shared on social media and sent to at least three district teachers, one of whom admitted to forwarding it to a student, knowing they would quickly disseminate it online. An email address connected to Darien was used to send the audio to numerous recipients. After hearing the comments, some community members were quick to blame Eiswert, who is white, citing a history of tensions with minority groups. ‘I am not surprised by his comments in this recording,’ Deray Mckesson, a prominent racial-justice activist from the Baltimore area who claimed to have had Eiswert as a high school teacher, posted on the social media platform X in January. He advocated for Eiswert’s ‘immediate termination’ and the permanent revocation of his teaching license. Myriam Rogers, the superintendent, denounced the remarks as ‘extremely offensive and inappropriate comments about African American students, Pikesville High School staff, and Pikesville’s Jewish community.’ Nonetheless, Eiswert denied making the comments, and doubts about the voice’s authenticity quickly arose. Investigations were launched promptly by local authorities and the school district. Since the inquiries began, Eiswert has not worked at the school, though the district has declined to confirm whether he was removed from his position. In March, AI specialists informed local news outlets that the audio was likely fabricated, citing its unnatural tone and absence of consistent breathing sounds. ‘From the outset of this incident, the recording appeared strange and dubious,’ Howard Libit, Executive Director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, informed the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Thursday. According to Libit, this is why the organization postponed issuing any initial remarks. ‘I am grateful to the police and school administration for taking the time to investigate and uncover the truth behind this matter,’ Libit added. ‘It is alarming to witness how AI can be exploited in this manner to inflict such harm on a school community and an individual. In our communities, we face a sufficient number of antisemitic and racist incidents without the addition of fabrications like this.’
Baltimore High Athletic Director Arrested for Faking Racist, Antisemitic Comments
