High school’s AI security system confuses Doritos bag for a possible firearm

A high school student in Baltimore County, Maryland, was handcuffed and searched after an AI security system flagged his bag of chips as a possible firearm.

Kenwood High School student Tucky Allen, CNN affiliate WBAL said“I was just holding a Doritos bag — it had two hands and a finger sticking out, and they said it looked like a gun.” But as a result, Allen said, “they put me on my knees, put my hands behind my back and cuffed me.”

In a statement shared with parents, Principal Katie Smith said the school’s safety department reviewed and canceled a gun detection alert, while Smith (who did not immediately realize the alert had been canceled) reported the situation to the school resource officer, who called local police.

Omnilert, the company that operates the AI ​​gun detection system, told CNN, “We are sorry that this incident occurred and want to express our concern to the students and community at large who may be affected by further incidents.” Still, Omnilert says “the process worked as intended.”