Unmasking Venezuelan Victory Videos and AI-Generated Pictures of Maduro.
AI-generated graphics purporting to depict Nicolás Maduro detained after his capture by the American authorities have gained countless of views across the internet.
The Way AI Images of Maduro Surfaced Rapidly
Initial inauthentic synthetic picture apparently showing him being escorted off a plane surfaced within hours. The picture was not shared any official government accounts; rather, it was posted on X by an account purporting to be an “AI video art enthusiast”.
We’ve checked the SynthID tool, which found the picture was produced or modified with Google AI.
More synthetic visuals began to spread in the subsequent hours, seemingly depicting more angles of the leader under guard. Noticeable identifying marks on these images show they came from an Instagram profile called ultravfx.
The detection tool says these additional images were similarly generated or edited AI technology.
Real Photo Posted but Fabrications Continued
The former US president shared the initial authentic image of Maduro in handcuffs aboard the US Navy ship on that morning. But even after the authentic image was published, synthetic pictures persisted online but were updated to incorporate the gray sweatsuit seen on Maduro.
Reverse image searches show the new fake images were originally uploaded on TikTok by a graphic design account. Similarly, the AI-watermark detector found these subsequent pictures were created or altered AI tools.
Key Points:
- Synthetic media circulated quickly following the announcement of the president's apprehension.
- The initial fabricated picture appeared on the same day on platform X.
- Detection software like Google’s SynthID were used to identify the images as AI-generated.
- Fake images persisted to spread and be updated despite the release of real images.
- The origin of many fakes was traced to social media accounts focused on AI art.
