In a groundbreaking case, Dazhon Darien, an Athletic Director from a high school in Maryland, has been accused of employing advanced artificial intelligence technology to imitate the voice of the school principal in a series of malicious audio records. These recordings, authorities revealed, escalated in scope and vitriol, to include inflammatory, antisemitic and racist comments.
This case, according to officials, appears to be one of the first of its kin in the nation, spotlighting the need for new laws to address the growing threat posed by this burgeoning technology. Artificial intelligence is becoming alarmingly, experts cautioned, while the resources to detect and counteract it could be woefully inadequate.
Darien, it appears, utilized the simulated voice as a weapon against the principal of Pikesville High School, serving as a response to their dispute regarding Darien’s subpar professional conduct and the uncertainty surrounding his contract renewal. The Baltimore County police have put forward some serious allegations, among them, that Darien misappropriated $1900 from school coffers to pay his roommate, justifying it as compensation for coaching the girls’ soccer team.
The situation quickly escalated when Darien released an audio recording where the principal seemed to express disappointment with Black students’ academic performances. The fabricated audio did not stop there, it went further to depict the head of school making derogatory comments about Jewish individuals and a couple of teachers.
This insidious audio clip spread like wildfire on various social media platforms with severe ramifications, eventually leading to the principal being put on administrative leave. The police described the threatening environment this deception created, putting the principal’s family at “significant risk”. Even necessitating police protection at his residence.
The ripple effect of this incident disrupted the daily activities of the school, subjecting it to a barrage of hateful messages on social media, and an onslaught of calls. The school staff also felt the pressure, with many expressing fears of potential recording devices being secreted around the school.
Darien, a 31-year-old, is now facing grave charges that range from theft to disrupting school activities, stalking and retaliation against a witness. According to Scott Shellenberger, the Baltimore County State’s Attorney, this case looks to be one of the first of its kind involving artificial intelligence. It highlights the urgent need to refine and amend state laws to accommodate the sinister possibilities of this new technology.
After Darien’s arrest wednesday evening at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, he posted a $5,000 bond on Thursday. The Baltimore County school superintendent, Myriam Rogers, is now recommending Darien’s termination.
A wave of unsettling curiosity surrounds the misuse of artificial intelligence. Siwei Lyu, director of a media forensics lab at the University of Buffalo, emphasizes that artificial intelligence is not only increasingly powerful but also ominously easy to use. Lyu has raised concerns over our detection capabilities being out-raced by the speedy evolution of AI technology.
Whether this case sounds an alarm bell for legislatures and law enforcement to counteract this escalating trend or becomes just a cautionary tale, only time will tell.
