Latest news with #Eiswert
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
These 13 Fake Stories Were Made by AI— and Folks Are Falling for Them Left and Right
It's no secret artificial intelligence is slowly becoming a part of our everyday lives, but that's all the more reason to know what's real and what's fake. In the era of misinformation and disinformation, it's time we take a look at some of the most shocking news headlines in recent times and really evaluate the truth behind it all. Now, The Root is diving deep into the world of AI deepfakes and ultimately, the consequences. These 13 stories serve as cautionary tales for all of us before AI becomes inescapable. Did any of these fake stories fool you??? (Be honest.) President Donald Trump faced backlash after giving 60 white South Africans— better known as Afrikaners— refugee status in the country. But after the murder of a South African woman broke headlines, many speculated her killer husband was one of Trump's refugees. This, according to is a blatant lie. In truth, Kim Towne, a South African born woman, was allegedly killed by her husband Alexander Towne. The two married in 2021 after meeting in Dubai. Alexander is a U.S. citizen, as confirmed by his own family. AI has even made its way into the classrooms. In January, former Pikesville High School principal Eric Eiswert sued Baltimore County Public Schools after he was fired last year. Originally, Eiswert was believed to be the voice in an audio recording spewing racist slurs and antisemitic hate, according to CBS News. He was accused of saying 'ungrateful Black kids' and more… but, it turns out, the recording was a fake, created by AI technology in the school. Now, Eiswert wants $75,000 in damages. As we previously reported, 17-year-old Austin Metcalf died in his brother's arms after being allegedly stabbed by another high school senior, Karmelo Anthony, in Texas. The case, which hasn't gone to trial yet, set off a massive wave of misinformation, including fake details about Metcalf's death certificate and autopsy. As CBS News reported, a fake X account posing as the Frisco Police Chief began sharing fake details about the investigation online. Then, a counterfeit autopsy report surfaced on Facebook, claiming drugs were involved in Metcalf's death. Adding on to the chaos surrounding the polarizing case, rumors began swirling that the Anthony family bought a new home and lavish vehicles with money they received on GoFundMe. Anthony's mother, Kayla Hayes, spoke during a press conference, denying everything. 'I don't know why we are being targeted and discriminated against before a fair trial,' she said. 'Our son deserved the same rights under the law that everyone is afforded to.' After almost two decades of being the target of racist, misogynistic and often homophobic attacks, former First Lady Michelle Obama made headlines this year when a clip from her podcast was taken out of context, fueling the baseless debate about whether Obama was born male. She was talking to comedian Marlon Wayans about his journey as a parent. She said to him, 'You are being a role model for dealing with a child that's transgender… And that warms my heart, particularly as a Black Man.' Of course, MAGA and Obama haters took this as an admission, but in fact, Obama was simply referring to Wayans— the only Black man in the room! Even in times of disaster, leave it to the racists of the world to find a way to be outraged. During the height of the California fires in January, video clips showed Black men carrying bags, TVs, and other valuables out of a house in the fire's path. Soon, rumors swirled that the Black people caught on camera were looting the home, taking advantage of the desperate situation. But the truth is the men were helping a woman move her things from her house. She reportedly had three children and a dog, according to Snopes. Out of all the deepfakes on this list, this one surely takes the cake. On X, a MAGA page falsely claimed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. endorsed Trump's second term, and he urged Black people to vote for Trump, claiming he did 'more for the Black community than any other president.' It soon got over 10 million views. 'It's vile, fake, irresponsible, and not at all reflective of what my father would say,' Bernice King said in response. 'And you gave no thought to our family.' During election season last year, several AI pictures and videos of the president with groups of Black people began making its way around the internet. Of course, they were all fake. The co-founder of Black Voters Matter said the counterfeit images were pushing a 'strategic narrative' designed to show Trump as popular in the Black community, according to BBC. Following a touchy game against the Chicago Sky in May, several folks on social media ran with the rumor that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark filed a defamation lawsuit against an ESPN analyst named Monica McNutt. The fake suit came after fans claimed Clark 'had enough' of being misrepresented in the media, according to MSN News. Short answer? No, Eddie Murphy did not testify in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal trial, but last month, rumors flooded Facebook suggesting otherwise. Catchy headlines like 'I Left Hollywood Because of Diddy!' surely fooled some folks online. But the truth is Murphy has no connection to the ongoing case against Diddy. In the words of Trump, this claim is also 'fake news.' Last week, Simone Biles got into a heated debate over the issue of transgender rights in sports. Her opponent, as we previously reported, former competitive swimmer Riley Gaines, began the debate following Trump's ban on transgender athletes. Soon, rumors began that Biles' role in the back and forth on X resulted in her being suspended, which is not true. We all remember where we were when we heard the tragic news that NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna 'Gigi' Bryant, and eight others died in a helicopter crash. Chaos soon took over, and misinformation flooded headlines around the globe. The most shocking report said Bryant's former teammate and actor Rick Fox also perished in the crash, which was obviously not true. Fox responded to the fake news saying, 'We're blessed to have had the time we had with Kobe. A city is mourning, a family's mourning. We're all mourning… but it's hard to deal with because it shook a lot of people in my life.' Back in 2017, folks were scrambling after several reports that President Trump had plans to rename Black History Month, according to Snopes. The February holiday is federally observed, but after Trump's anti-immigration antics and detailed history of racist, divisive remarks, many feared he'd set his sights on the Black celebration… Well, as we know eight years later, that didn't happen.
New York Times
29-04-2025
- New York Times
Ex-School Athletic Director Gets 4 Months in Jail for Racist Deepfake Recording
A former athletic director at a Baltimore area high school who was accused of using artificial intelligence to create a racist and antisemitic audio clip impersonating the school's principal was sentenced on Monday to four months in jail as part of a plea deal, according to prosecutors. The former director, Dazhon Darien, 32, pleaded guilty to disturbing school operations, a misdemeanor charge, according to the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office. Mr. Darien had previously faced additional charges, including theft, stalking and retaliating against a witness. According to The Associated Press, Mr. Darien entered an Alford plea to the disturbing school operations charge, which allows defendants to maintain their innocence while pleading guilty. Mr. Darien, the former athletic director of Pikesville High School, fabricated an audio clip that included a rant about 'ungrateful Black kids who can't test their way out of a paper bag' and disparaging comments about Jewish students, according to a statement of facts in the case used to support the guilty plea. According to police records, the audio was an attempt to smear the school's principal, Eric Eiswert, according to police records. According to the statement of facts, Mr. Eiswert said that there had been 'conversations' with Mr. Darien about his contract not being renewed because of 'his poor performance at the school, his inability to follow clearly laid out procedures and his unwillingness to follow the chain of command.' Problems with Mr. Darien began in late 2023, leading up to the audio's release, according to the statement. A lawyer listed for Mr. Darien did not respond to calls and messages on Tuesday. The Baltimore County Public Schools district declined to comment on the case. Efforts to reach Mr. Eiswert on Tuesday were unsuccessful. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
28-04-2025
- CBS News
Baltimore man to stand trial after allegedly framing former principal with AI-generated rant
A Baltimore man is scheduled to begin trial this week after being accused of using AI to impersonate a former high school principal in 2024. Former Pikesville High School athletic director Dazhon Darien allegedly used AI to create a recording of former principal Eric Eiswert that included racist and antisemitic comments. According to court documents, Darien is charged with stalking, disrupting school operations, retaliating against a witness and theft. His trial is scheduled to start with jury selection on Monday morning. Accused of using AI to impersonate a principal According to Baltimore County police, Darien used AI to replicate Eiswert's voice and then shared the audio on social media in January 2024. The recording included negative comments about Black students and the Jewish community. Police said the recording was supposed to represent a conversation between Eiswert and an assistant principal. Detectives determined that Darien created the fake recording to retaliate against Eiswert after the former principal launched an investigation into the potential mishandling of school funds. Due to the viral nature of the recording, Eiswert was temporarily removed from the school. Experts determine recording was created with AI Eiswert told police that he believed the clip was created using AI. He believed Darien was responsible, saying he was "technologically savvy and believed he was familiar with AI." During their investigation, police determined that Darien had several work-related issues since he began in July 2023. The investigation also revealed that Darien had searched for OpenAI tools, which were eventually linked to paid accounts. An audio analysis conducted by three experts found that the recording had content generated with AI, along with background noises added through human editing. Dazhon Darien charged with child pornography Following his initial arrest, Darien was also charged with child pornography and exploitation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. According to court documents, Darien coerced a boy to engage in sexually explicit conduct and create abuse material. He allegedly coerced two other minors to engage in sexual conduct. A search of Darien's phone revealed child sex abuse material, according to prosecutors. Darien's original trial for impersonating former principal Eiswert was postponed after he was arrested on these federal charges. Former principal files lawsuit over AI impersonation In January 2025, former principal Eiswert filed a lawsuit against the Baltimore County school district and Darien over the false AI recording. The lawsuit alleges that Darien conspired with other school employees. After Eiswert was suspended for the racist comments, he resigned from his job. His lawsuit alleges that the district removed him from his position despite knowing the recording was fake. According to Eiswert's lawsuit, the district did not defend him when it was proven that the recording was created through AI. The lawsuit also accuses the district of negligence in its hiring of Darien.
CBS News
03-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland schools would tighten hiring checks under proposed bill
Maryland lawmakers want to tighten hiring checks at local schools with a newly proposed bill. HB1025 aims to enhance transparency in the hiring process at Maryland schools. Under the bill, Maryland school systems would be required to become associate members of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification. Schools would also be required to use the NASDTEC Educator Identification Clearinghouse to screen educators. According to NASDTEC, the Clearinghouse "maintains a database of all disciplinary actions reported by NASDTEC members and disseminates this information to all participating NASDTEC jurisdictions. The proposed measure comes after Pikesville High School's former athletic director secured his position after making false claims on multiple resumes submitted to Baltimore County Public Schools. Arrest of former athletic director sparks vetting concerns Dazhon Darien, 32, was arrested and charged for allegedly using AI to impersonate former Pikesville High School Principal Eric Eiswert in a recording containing racist and antisemitic comments. Darien allegedly created the recording to retaliate against Eiswert, who was investigating the potential mishandling of school funds by Darien. The fabricated audio, which disparaged Black students and the Jewish community, circulated widely online, causing Eiswert's temporary removal, hate messages, and school disruptions. An FBI forensic analyst and a University of California, Berkley expert, confirmed the recording was AI-generated and manipulated. Darien, who was found with a firearm at the airport attempting to board a flight to Houston when apprehended, faces charges including theft, stalking, disruption of school operations, and retaliation against a witness. The situation caused significant distress within the school community. During a court hearing related to the AI impersonation case, Darien was arrested on federal charges of child pornography and exploitation. According to an indictment, federal authorities allegedly found child sex abuse material on Darien's devices, and evidence of him paying a minor for videos. The case spurred broader concerns regarding the vetting process for school staff, with Baltimore County Council Chairman Izzy Patoka calling for increased vetting of school staff. A Baltimore Banner investigation revealed that Darien lied on his resume to secure his job at Baltimore County Public Schools, making at least 29 false claims on four job applications using two different names. Two resumes Darien submitted for jobs at Baltimore County schools included at least 16 claims The Banner found to be false. "While Baltimore County Public Schools has its responsibilities to educate children, the families, they live in our districts," Patoka said. Any staff members near students "need to be vetted carefully" so this doesn't happen again, he said. Former principal files lawsuit Eiswert filed a lawsuit against Baltimore County Public Schools for removing him from his position even though the AI-generated recording was shown to be false. The lawsuit, filed in early January, claims that Darien collaborated with other school system employees to frame Eiswert. He has since accepted a new post as principal of Sparrows Point Middle School.
CBS News
06-02-2025
- CBS News
Man accused of using AI to impersonate Maryland principal indicted on child pornography, exploitation charges
BALTIMORE -- A man accused of using artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate a former principal was indicted on federal child pornography and exploitation charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Thursday. Prosecutors said Dazhon Darien, 32, coerced a minor male to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce and transmit abuse material. He is also accused of enticing two additional minor males into prohibited sexual conduct. According to court documents, Darien used CashApp to pay a minor to send videos of himself between December 2023 and March 2024. A search of Darien's phones and online accounts revealed child sex abuse material, according to court documents. He allegedly stored child sexual abuse material in internet accounts and on a digital device, according to prosecutors. He is charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of coercion and enticement of a child, one count of receipt of child sexual abuse material, and four counts of possession of child sexual abuse material. Darien was arrested during an unrelated court hearing on Jan. 27. Alleged principal impersonation In Maryland, Darien is accused of creating an AI-generated recording that impersonated former principal Eric Eiswert making derogatory statements about Black students and the Jewish community. The recording, which spread widely on social media, was analyzed by FBI-contracted experts who found evidence of artificial intelligence generation combined with human-edited background noise. Police say Darien, who was Pikesville High School's former athletic director, created the fraudulent recording in retaliation after Eiswert initiated an investigation into the potential mishandling of school funds. The trial, originally scheduled for January 28, has been postponed, according to The Baltimore Banner. Darien is charged with disturbing school operations, retaliating against a witness, and stalking. Framed principal files lawsuit Eiswert filed a lawsuit against Baltimore County Public Schools for removing him from his position over the AI-generated recording, despite it being proven to be fabricated. The lawsuit, filed in early January, alleges that Darien conspired with other school system employees to frame Eiswert. Eiswert has since taken a new position as principal of Sparrows Point Middle School in June 2024. An investigation by the Baltimore Banner revealed that Darien had used false resumes to obtain positions within Baltimore County Public Schools. A school system official told the Banner that standard hiring protocols, including background checks, fingerprinting, transcript reviews, and reference checks, were followed during Darien's hiring process.
