Racist AI Deepfake That Deceived and Divided a Community Uncovered

When an audio clip surfaced that allegedly featured a local school principal making derogatory remarks, it quickly went viral, igniting outrage and even leading to death threats against the educator. The community in a suburb outside Baltimore was sent into turmoil. However, it was soon revealed that the recording was an artificial intelligence-generated fake. Despite this, many people continue to believe in its authenticity.

The clip began with the principal of Pikesville High School launching into a tirade filled with racist, antisemitic, and offensive comments. Phrases like, “I seriously don't understand why I have to constantly put up with these dumbasses here every day,” set the tone for a rant that included derogatory remarks about “ungrateful black kids” and Jewish people in the community.

First posted in January, the clip gained national traction, particularly resonating in the suburban neighborhood of Pikesville, which has significant Black and Jewish populations. Principal Eric Eiswert was placed on paid administrative leave while an investigation took place.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel 

Alfie Malone, a Black resident of nearby Baltimore, noticed community members sharing the clip and initially assumed it was genuine. “In the back of your mind, you think this is probably the way people really feel about us,” he remarked. To verify the claims, he sought out real recordings of Principal Eiswert on social media and noted their similarities, prompting him to share the clip further.

The audio quickly spread across social media, amassing close to two million views in just hours—an audience that dwarfs the population of Pikesville. However, those sharing the clip were unaware that it had been manufactured using AI technology.

Investigative journalist Kristen Griffith from the Baltimore Banner initially thought she would be reporting on a straightforward case of a teacher making offensive remarks. Following standard journalistic practice, she reached out to Principal Eiswert's union representative for a comment. To her surprise, he immediately suggested that the clip was fake and believed it had been created using AI technology.

Despite this clarification, many readers remained unconvinced. The explanation only fueled backlash from those who thought the claim of fakery was an excuse to evade accountability. Meanwhile, local police launched an investigation amid rising tensions. Staff members at Pikesville High expressed feelings of insecurity and voiced concerns about the possibility of their school being bugged with recording devices.

Principal Eiswert's reputation suffered considerably as threats and hate messages proliferated on social media, prompting increased security measures around him and the school.

In April, Baltimore Police Chief Robert McCullough announced they had gathered “conclusive evidence” proving the audio recording was not authentic and identified a suspect. The police charged 31-year-old Dazhon Darien, the school’s athletics director, with multiple offenses related to the fake audio. Arrested at the airport while attempting to flee to Houston, Texas, Darien was under investigation by Principal Eiswert for an alleged theft of nearly $2,000 from the school. Investigators posited that he created the deepfake in an attempt to discredit the principal before his potential dismissal.

The investigation revealed that the email used to send the original clip was linked to Darien, who allegedly accessed AI tools through the Baltimore County Public Schools' computer network. He is set to stand trial in December 2024.

The fallout from the deepfake continues to affect the local community. The audio's nature—being purely audio without any visual clues—made it harder for listeners to discern its authenticity. It included specific jargon and details known to people closely associated with the school, making it seem legitimate. Although there were subtle signs of editing in the audio and the voice sounded somewhat monotonous, many listeners chose to ignore these inconsistencies.

The biggest reason people believed the clip was real, according to Mr. Malone, was that it resonated with their lived experiences of racism. The distorted remarks about Black students evoked memories of the discrimination he had faced throughout his life.

Months later, the repercussions of the fake audio clip linger in Pikesville. Principal Eiswert has since moved to another school, and while some community members have come to accept the clip as fake, the damage has already been done.

“This is a Jewish neighborhood, and to say something so inflammatory about the community was upsetting,” said a resident named Sharon. She recounted her initial reaction to the clip as though it were genuine. When reminded by her husband that it was fake, she acknowledged her anger about the incident.

The situation has made many residents, including Sharon, wary. Even if they later learned the truth about the clip, the feelings of fear and anxiety it evoked lingered. The incident serves as a potent reminder of how misinformation, particularly when intertwined with genuine experiences of racism and discrimination, can take root in a community.

Despite efforts by social media companies to combat AI-generated misinformation, these actions often come too late, allowing harmful content to spread widely before being addressed. Mr. Malone expressed concern for the many in his community who remain unaware that the audio was fabricated.

Reflecting on the experience, he said, “I’ve been burnt by the fire once. I'm not touching the stove again,” recognizing the need for caution in the face of digital deception.