AI-generated gun video prompts lockdown at Baltimore high school
Perry Hall High School in Baltimore was locked down in April 2025 after an AI-generated video depicting a student with a gun was used as a threat. Police found no weapon and lifted the lockdown within 10 minutes, but the incident caused psychological alarm among students and staff.
What happened
Perry Hall High School in Baltimore was placed on lockdown in April 2025 after Baltimore County Police notified administrators of a violence threat and an AI-generated video appeared showing a student with a gun.
Police detained a suspect connected to the initial threat, found no weapon, and lifted the lockdown within about 10 minutes. The incident caused temporary disruption to school activities.
Reported impact
The incident heightened alarm among students, staff, and families and caused temporary disruption to school activities.
Index analysis
Generative AI systems can produce deepfake videos of weapons instantly and freely, enabling their use to threaten and destabilize schools.
Governance controls
The incident highlights the need for developers and deployers of generative AI systems to strengthen their safeguards, and emphasizes the need for careful governance of AI in schools to ensure security and protect student welfare and community trust.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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