Debunking Venezuelan Victory Videos and AI-Generated Pictures of Nicolás Maduro.
AI-generated graphics claiming to show Nicolás Maduro under arrest after his capture by the American authorities have amassed many millions of views online.
How Fake Pictures of the President Appeared Soon After
Initial fabricated AI image apparently displaying him being escorted off a plane emerged a brief time later. The picture was absent from any verified government accounts; rather, it was uploaded on the platform X by an account describing itself as an “AI video art enthusiast”.
We’ve checked Google’s SynthID, determining the image was generated or edited with generative AI.
Additional synthetic images started circulating in the subsequent hours, appearing to show additional perspectives of the leader detained. Noticeable logos on the graphics reveal they originated from an Instagram profile called ultravfx.
The detection tool confirms all of these pictures were likewise created or altered generative models.
Authentic Image Released but Fakes Persisted
Donald Trump posted the first real photo of Maduro restrained aboard the USS Iwo Jima on that morning. But even after this confirmation was made public, synthetic pictures persisted online but were modified to incorporate the grey tracksuit seen on Maduro.
Digital forensics reveal these updated fakes were first posted on TikTok by a graphic design account. Similarly, the AI-watermark detector says these subsequent pictures were generated or edited AI tools.
Important Facts:
- Synthetic media gained traction following the news of Maduro's capture.
- The first fake image appeared within hours on platform X.
- Detection software like AI-watermark detectors were used to identify the images as AI-generated.
- Fake images continued to circulate and be updated even after the release of real images.
- The origin of many fabricated images was traced to specific online profiles focused on AI art.
