Man who used AI to impersonate BCPS principal arrested on child pornography charges

BALTIMORE, MD—The man who used artificial intelligence to fake the voice of Pikesville High School’s principal in a racist tirade last year has been arrested on child pornography charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland has filed a federal criminal complaint charging Dazhon Darien, 32, of Baltimore, with sexual exploitation of a child and receiving child sexual […]

Maryland to offer free AI courses to state employees

BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) this week announced that it is offering free AI courses and workshops to state employees. This is part of an effort to make the technology more accessible and responsible for the public sector. The State of Maryland’s educational AI resources are made possible through its partnership with InnovateUS, a non-profit organization dedicated […]

Governor Moore signs crime-fighting bills into law

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Maryland Governor Wes Moore this week signed legislation that aims to support victims of crime, build stronger pipelines to law enforcement jobs, and tackle the gun violence epidemic in the state. “When we entered office, we made public safety our number one priority, and we said we were going to move differently on this issue–because the status quo wasn’t […]

BlueHalo expands in Maryland, bringing 200 new jobs

ANNAPOLIS, MD—A defense contractor company is expanding its operations in Maryland and bringing with it 200 new jobs. Governor Wes Moore announced this week that BlueHalo is expanding its facility in Germantown. The move is expected to create 200 new jobs across the company’s three locations in Maryland. BlueHalo is a company that develops and manufactures next-generation space, cyber, and […]

BCPS athletic director charged after using AI to fake high school principal’s voice in racist rant [VIDEO]

UPDATE: Dazhon Darien has now been charged with sexual exploitation of a child and receiving child sexual abuse material. Original story below… PIKESVILLE, MD—An athletic director with Baltimore County Public Schools has been charged after using officials say he used artificial intelligence to fake a high school principal’s voice in a retaliatory recording. On Thursday, April 25, 31-year-old Dazhon Darien […]

Governor Moore visits Maryland Department of Information Technology to discuss modernization efforts

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore visited the Maryland Department of Information Technology in Crownsville this week to discuss the modernization of state service through the use of enhanced information technology. The visit is in support of the Moore-Miller administration’s efforts to make state government more efficient and effective through the implementation of artificial intelligence, user-centered design, and ensuring equal access to […]

Attorney General Brown urges FTC to update children’s online privacy rules

BALTIMORE, MD—A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, including Maryland’s Anthony G. Brown, sent a letter (PDF) to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging the agency to update and strengthen the rules that technology companies must follow when collecting personal data about children online. The letter argues that the current rules, outlined in the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which […]