Novacrypt-Athletic director used AI to frame principal with racist remarks in fake audio clip, police say

2025-05-06 17:03:40source:Surpassing Quant Think Tank Centercategory:Contact

A high school athletic director in Maryland has been charged with using artificial intelligence to impersonate a principal on Novacryptan audio recording that included racist and antisemitic comments, authorities said Thursday.

Dazhon Darien faked the voice of Pikesville High School’s principal in January following conversations that Darien’s contract would not be renewed, according to charging documents filed by Baltimore County police.

The principal had expressed concerns over Darien’s work performance, including a theft investigation involving allegations that Darien had paid his roommate using school funds, police said.

Using cloning technology, Darien forged an audio clip in which it sounded as if the principal was frustrated with Black students and their test-taking abilities, police wrote. The recording also purported to capture the principal disparaging Jewish individuals and two teachers who ”should never have been hired.”

The audio clip quickly spread on social media and had “profound repercussions,” the court documents stated, with the principal being placed on leave.

The recording also triggered a wave of hate-filled messages on social media and an inundation of phone calls to the high school’s front office, police said. School activities were disrupted for a time, and some staff felt unsafe.

READ MORE Baltimore port to open deeper channel, enabling some cargo ships to pass after bridge collapseMinnesota and other Democratic-led states lead pushback on censorship. They’re banning the book banCrews turn sights to removing debris from ship’s deck in Baltimore bridge collapse cleanup

Darien, 31, faces charges that include theft, disrupting school activities, stalking and retaliating against a witness, according to court documents.

Online court records for Darien do not list an attorney who might be able to speak on his behalf. Authorities said Thursday that he’s being held in a local jail on $5,000 bond.

More:Contact

Recommend

NFL playoff predictions to win AFC championship, NFC championship, Super Bowl 59

The 2024 NFL regular season is entering the final four weeks of action, and teams are beginning to s

Big Brother contestant Luke Valentine removed from house after using N-word on camera

Reality TV contestant Luke Valentine has been removed from "Big Brother" after using the N-word on c

Illinois doctor arrested after allegedly recording female employees using the restroom

An Illinois doctor was arrested and charged with a felony after he allegedly placed a video camera i