Latest news with #PikesvilleHighSchool
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.
29-04-2025
Former school athletic director gets 4 months in jail in racist AI deepfake case
BALTIMORE -- A former high school athletics director accused of using artificial intelligence to create a racist and antisemitic deepfake of a Maryland principal has been sentenced to four months in jail as part of a plea deal for disrupting school operations. Dazhon Darien, 32, accepted the deal Monday in Baltimore County Circuit Court, records show. He entered an Alford plea to the single misdemeanor charge, which means he acknowledged the evidence against him without directly admitting guilt. His original charges included theft, stalking and retaliating against a witness. According to police and prosecutors, Darien used AI software to generate a fake recording of former Pikesville High School principal Eric Eiswert's voice expressing frustration with Black students and their test-taking abilities. The recording, which was disseminated throughout the school community and shared widely on social media last January, also purported to capture the principal disparaging Jewish people, authorities said. Not long before the recording surfaced, Eiswert had informed Darien that his contract wouldn't be renewed the following semester because of concerns over poor job performance, according to court documents. The concerns included allegations that Darien paid his roommate $1,900 in school funds under the pretense of coaching the girls' soccer team, police said. Experts who analyzed the recording concluded it was AI-generated. Despite receiving a relatively short sentence, Darien could remain incarcerated longer as he faces a separate federal case in which he's accused of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material. Authorities said they discovered evidence of those crimes while searching Darien's phone and other devices. While fake recordings of political figures and celebrities have surfaced in recent years as the technology becomes more widespread, officials have said the case is among the first examples of AI being used to embarrass someone for personal gain. The subset of artificial intelligence known as generative AI can create hyperrealistic images, videos and audio clips. As it becomes cheaper and easier to use, anyone with an internet connection can access its capabilities. Even a short recording of someone's voice allows users to generate cloned speech from a script. Other examples of AI-generated audio include robocalls impersonating former President Joe Biden that tried to dissuade Democrats from voting in last year's New Hampshire primary election. People have also cloned the voices of purportedly kidnapped children over the phone to get ransom money from parents, experts say. In response, many states have enacted laws in recent years targeting the use of AI, especially targeting media intended to influence election results and digitally created or altered child sexual abuse imagery. During this year's legislative session, Maryland lawmakers considered a bill that would have prohibited the use of AI to falsely impersonate people. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger advocated in favor of the law change, but it ultimately didn't pass. Darien's bogus audio sent shockwaves through the suburban Pikesville community as angry phone calls inundated the school and hate-filled messages accumulated on social media. Authorities said police were sent to patrol Eiswert's home in response to threats. Eiswert, who is now principal of another Baltimore County school, said from the beginning that he believed the recording was fake. He has since filed a lawsuit against the school district, alleging Darien never should have been hired in the first place. Darien joined the district in spring 2023, when he started teaching social studies at a different high school, according to the lawsuit. He was later promoted to Pikesville athletic director. Eiswert's complaint cites reporting from The Baltimore Banner that revealed a host of false claims on Darien's job application, including multiple degrees he hadn't obtained. Florida education officials also denied Darien a teaching certificate in 2016 based on 'test of document fraud' and flagged his name in a national database, the Banner found. Eiswert argues Baltimore County school officials failed to properly vet his application materials and investigate his background.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-04-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Former school athletic director gets 4 months in jail in racist AI deepfake case
BALTIMORE (AP) — A former high school athletics director accused of using artificial intelligence to create a racist and antisemitic deepfake of a Maryland principal has been sentenced to four months in jail as part of a plea deal for disrupting school operations. Dazhon Darien, 32, accepted the deal Monday in Baltimore County Circuit Court, records show. He entered an Alford plea to the single misdemeanor charge, which means he acknowledged the evidence against him without directly admitting guilt. His original charges included theft, stalking and retaliating against a witness. According to police and prosecutors, Darien used AI software to generate a fake recording of former Pikesville High School principal Eric Eiswert's voice expressing frustration with Black students and their test-taking abilities. The recording, which was disseminated throughout the school community and shared widely on social media last January, also purported to capture the principal disparaging Jewish people, authorities said. Not long before the recording surfaced, Eiswert had informed Darien that his contract wouldn't be renewed the following semester because of concerns over poor job performance, according to court documents. The concerns included allegations that Darien paid his roommate $1,900 in school funds under the pretense of coaching the girls' soccer team, police said. Experts who analyzed the recording concluded it was AI-generated. Despite receiving a relatively short sentence, Darien could remain incarcerated longer as he faces a separate federal case in which he's accused of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material. Authorities said they discovered evidence of those crimes while searching Darien's phone and other devices. While fake recordings of political figures and celebrities have surfaced in recent years as the technology becomes more widespread, officials have said the case is among the first examples of AI being used to embarrass someone for personal gain. The subset of artificial intelligence known as generative AI can create hyperrealistic images, videos and audio clips. As it becomes cheaper and easier to use, anyone with an internet connection can access its capabilities. Even a short recording of someone's voice allows users to generate cloned speech from a script. Other examples of AI-generated audio include robocalls impersonating former President Joe Biden that tried to dissuade Democrats from voting in last year's New Hampshire primary election. People have also cloned the voices of purportedly kidnapped children over the phone to get ransom money from parents, experts say. In response, many states have enacted laws in recent years targeting the use of AI, especially targeting media intended to influence election results and digitally created or altered child sexual abuse imagery. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. During this year's legislative session, Maryland lawmakers considered a bill that would have prohibited the use of AI to falsely impersonate people. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger advocated in favor of the law change, but it ultimately didn't pass. Darien's bogus audio sent shockwaves through the suburban Pikesville community as angry phone calls inundated the school and hate-filled messages accumulated on social media. Authorities said police were sent to patrol Eiswert's home in response to threats. Eiswert, who is now principal of another Baltimore County school, said from the beginning that he believed the recording was fake. He has since filed a lawsuit against the school district, alleging Darien never should have been hired in the first place. Darien joined the district in spring 2023, when he started teaching social studies at a different high school, according to the lawsuit. He was later promoted to Pikesville athletic director. Eiswert's complaint cites reporting from The Baltimore Banner that revealed a host of false claims on Darien's job application, including multiple degrees he hadn't obtained. Florida education officials also denied Darien a teaching certificate in 2016 based on 'test of document fraud' and flagged his name in a national database, the Banner found. Eiswert argues Baltimore County school officials failed to properly vet his application materials and investigate his background.
The Independent
29-04-2025
- The Independent
Former school athletic director gets 4 months in jail in racist AI deepfake case
A former high school athletics director accused of using artificial intelligence to create a racist and antisemitic deepfake of a Maryland principal has been sentenced to four months in jail as part of a plea deal for disrupting school operations. Dazhon Darien, 32, accepted the deal Monday in Baltimore County Circuit Court, records show. He entered an Alford plea to the single misdemeanor charge, which means he acknowledged the evidence against him without directly admitting guilt. His original charges included theft, stalking and retaliating against a witness. According to police and prosecutors, Darien used AI software to generate a fake recording of former Pikesville High School principal Eric Eiswert's voice expressing frustration with Black students and their test-taking abilities. The recording, which was disseminated throughout the school community and shared widely on social media last January, also purported to capture the principal disparaging Jewish people, authorities said. Not long before the recording surfaced, Eiswert had informed Darien that his contract wouldn't be renewed the following semester because of concerns over poor job performance, according to court documents. The concerns included allegations that Darien paid his roommate $1,900 in school funds under the pretense of coaching the girls' soccer team, police said. Experts who analyzed the recording concluded it was AI-generated. Despite receiving a relatively short sentence, Darien could remain incarcerated longer as he faces a separate federal case in which he's accused of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material. Authorities said they discovered evidence of those crimes while searching Darien's phone and other devices. While fake recordings of political figures and celebrities have surfaced in recent years as the technology becomes more widespread, officials have said the case is among the first examples of AI being used to embarrass someone for personal gain. The subset of artificial intelligence known as generative AI can create hyperrealistic images, videos and audio clips. As it becomes cheaper and easier to use, anyone with an internet connection can access its capabilities. Even a short recording of someone's voice allows users to generate cloned speech from a script. Other examples of AI-generated audio include robocalls impersonating former President Joe Biden that tried to dissuade Democrats from voting in last year's New Hampshire primary election. People have also cloned the voices of purportedly kidnapped children over the phone to get ransom money from parents, experts say. In response, many states have enacted laws in recent years targeting the use of AI, especially targeting media intended to influence election results and digitally created or altered child sexual abuse imagery. During this year's legislative session, Maryland lawmakers considered a bill that would have prohibited the use of AI to falsely impersonate people. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger advocated in favor of the law change, but it ultimately didn't pass. Darien's bogus audio sent shockwaves through the suburban Pikesville community as angry phone calls inundated the school and hate-filled messages accumulated on social media. Authorities said police were sent to patrol Eiswert's home in response to threats. Eiswert, who is now principal of another Baltimore County school, said from the beginning that he believed the recording was fake. He has since filed a lawsuit against the school district, alleging Darien never should have been hired in the first place. Darien joined the district in spring 2023, when he started teaching social studies at a different high school, according to the lawsuit. He was later promoted to Pikesville athletic director. Eiswert's complaint cites reporting from The Baltimore Banner that revealed a host of false claims on Darien's job application, including multiple degrees he hadn't obtained. Florida education officials also denied Darien a teaching certificate in 2016 based on 'test of document fraud' and flagged his name in a national database, the Banner found. Eiswert argues Baltimore County school officials failed to properly vet his application materials and investigate his background.
Associated Press
29-04-2025
- Associated Press
Former school athletic director gets 4 months in jail in racist AI deepfake case
BALTIMORE (AP) — A former high school athletics director accused of using artificial intelligence to create a racist and antisemitic deepfake of a Maryland principal has been sentenced to four months in jail as part of a plea deal for disrupting school operations. Dazhon Darien, 32, accepted the deal Monday in Baltimore County Circuit Court, records show. He entered an Alford plea to the single misdemeanor charge, which means he acknowledged the evidence against him without directly admitting guilt. His original charges included theft, stalking and retaliating against a witness. According to police and prosecutors, Darien used AI software to generate a fake recording of former Pikesville High School principal Eric Eiswert's voice expressing frustration with Black students and their test-taking abilities. The recording, which was disseminated throughout the school community and shared widely on social media last January, also purported to capture the principal disparaging Jewish people, authorities said. Not long before the recording surfaced, Eiswert had informed Darien that his contract wouldn't be renewed the following semester because of concerns over poor job performance, according to court documents. The concerns included allegations that Darien paid his roommate $1,900 in school funds under the pretense of coaching the girls' soccer team, police said. Experts who analyzed the recording concluded it was AI-generated. Despite receiving a relatively short sentence, Darien could remain incarcerated longer as he faces a separate federal case in which he's accused of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material. Authorities said they discovered evidence of those crimes while searching Darien's phone and other devices. While fake recordings of political figures and celebrities have surfaced in recent years as the technology becomes more widespread, officials have said the case is among the first examples of AI being used to embarrass someone for personal gain. The subset of artificial intelligence known as generative AI can create hyperrealistic images, videos and audio clips. As it becomes cheaper and easier to use, anyone with an internet connection can access its capabilities. Even a short recording of someone's voice allows users to generate cloned speech from a script. Other examples of AI-generated audio include robocalls impersonating former President Joe Biden that tried to dissuade Democrats from voting in last year's New Hampshire primary election. People have also cloned the voices of purportedly kidnapped children over the phone to get ransom money from parents, experts say. In response, many states have enacted laws in recent years targeting the use of AI, especially targeting media intended to influence election results and digitally created or altered child sexual abuse imagery. During this year's legislative session, Maryland lawmakers considered a bill that would have prohibited the use of AI to falsely impersonate people. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger advocated in favor of the law change, but it ultimately didn't pass. Darien's bogus audio sent shockwaves through the suburban Pikesville community as angry phone calls inundated the school and hate-filled messages accumulated on social media. Authorities said police were sent to patrol Eiswert's home in response to threats. Eiswert, who is now principal of another Baltimore County school, said from the beginning that he believed the recording was fake. He has since filed a lawsuit against the school district, alleging Darien never should have been hired in the first place. Darien joined the district in spring 2023, when he started teaching social studies at a different high school, according to the lawsuit. He was later promoted to Pikesville athletic director. Eiswert's complaint cites reporting from The Baltimore Banner that revealed a host of false claims on Darien's job application, including multiple degrees he hadn't obtained. Florida education officials also denied Darien a teaching certificate in 2016 based on 'test of document fraud' and flagged his name in a national database, the Banner found. Eiswert argues Baltimore County school officials failed to properly vet his application materials and investigate his background.
