Student handcuffed after Doritos bag mistaken for a gun by Maryland school’s AI security system

CNN Armed police handcuffed and searched a attendee at a high school in Baltimore County Maryland this week after an AI-driven safety system flagged the teen s empty bag of chips as a achievable firearm Baltimore County executives are now calling for a review of how Kenwood High School uses the AI gun detection system and why the teen ended up in handcuffs despite school safety personnel fleetly determining there was no weapon They made me get on my knees put my hands behind my back and cuffed me Kenwood aspirant Taki Allen informed CNN affiliate WBAL describing what happened Monday evening when police arrived at the school while he was waiting with friends for a ride home after football practice They searched me and they figured out I had nothing Then they went over to where I was standing and determined a bag of chips on the floor Allen explained He described a distressing scene with a heavy police response The first thing I was wondering was was I about to die Because they had a gun pointed at me Allen recounted WBAL saying about eight cop cars pulled up to the school I was just holding a Doritos bag it was two hands and one finger out and they reported it looked like a gun Allen reported WBAL The AI-powered safeguard system at the school is just one example of how schools are approaching safety in the age of mass gun violence AI tools have exploded in popularity in new years including tools to help monitor surveillance footage CNN reached out to the Baltimore County Police Department for comment The department stated WBAL officers responded to a analysis of a suspicious person with a weapon but determined the person was unarmed after a search Kenwood Principal Kate Smith revealed the school district s shield department reviewed and canceled the gun detection alert after confirming there was no weapon according to a comment sent to parents that was shared with CNN Smith explained she announced the matter to Kenwood s school stock officer who called local police for help The principal didn t forthwith realize the alert had been canceled a spokesperson for Baltimore County General Schools recounted WBAL We understand how upsetting this was for the individual that was searched as well as the other students who witnessed the happening Smith announced in the report Please know that ensuring the safety of our students and school population is one of our highest priorities Omnilert the company that operates the AI gun detection system expressed regret over the happening and emphasized that its system is designed to identify a attainable threat and elevate it to human review We regret that this occurrence occurred and wish to convey our concern to the pupil and the wider area affected by the events that followed the company described CNN While the object was later determined not to be a firearm the process functioned as intended to prioritize safety and awareness through rapid human verification the company added The AI gun detection system has been used in Baltimore County society schools since analyzing video from the schools existing prevention cameras Superintendent Myriam Rogers declared during a news conference Wednesday Rogers called Monday s matter truly unfortunate and reported the district never wants to put any of its students in such a frightening situation The heavy-handed response to the false alarm has sparked outrage in the public with Allen s grandfather Lamont Davis demanding accountability Something has got to be done he explained to WBAL Changes have to be made and people have to be held accountable Baltimore County executives say they want a review of the process that led to Monday s police response No child in our school system should be accosted by police for eating a bag of Doritos Baltimore County Councilman Izzy Patoka explained in a declaration on social media calling on the school district to review procedures around its AI-powered weapon detection system Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones also called for a review of the use of the AI system to make sure there are safeguards in place so this type of error does not happen again according to WBAL Superintendent Rogers announced reviewing the system and defense practices in Baltimore County schools is part of our regular practice The-CNN-Wire Cable News System Inc a Warner Bros Discovery Company All rights reserved Source