Unmasking Venezuelan Celebration Videos and AI-Generated Pictures of Maduro.
AI-generated graphics claiming to show Nicolás Maduro detained after his capture by the US have gained many millions of impressions online.
The Way Fake Pictures of the President Appeared Rapidly
The first fabricated synthetic picture seemingly displaying him led off a plane surfaced a brief time later. This image was not shared any official US channels; rather, it was posted on the platform X by an account purporting to be an “AI video art enthusiast”.
Our analysis used the SynthID tool, confirming the image was produced or modified with Google AI.
More AI-generated visuals were disseminated in the following hours, purporting to present more angles of Maduro under guard. Noticeable watermarks on these pictures show they came from an Instagram account called ultravfx.
SynthID indicates the further pictures were likewise produced using AI technology.
Authentic Image Released but Fabrications Continued
The former US president posted the initial authentic image of Maduro restrained aboard the USS Iwo Jima on Saturday morning. But even after this confirmation was published, synthetic pictures kept circulating but were modified to show the grey athletic wear seen on Maduro.
Online investigation show these altered fabrications were originally uploaded on TikTok by a digital art profile. Again, SynthID confirms the new graphics were generated or edited generative artificial intelligence.
Main Takeaways:
- AI-generated content spread rapidly following the news of Maduro's capture.
- The first fake image appeared very quickly on social media.
- Detection software like AI-watermark detectors were used to identify the images as inauthentic.
- Fabrications persisted to circulate and evolve even after the release of authentic images.
- The origin of many fakes was linked to specific online profiles dedicated to graphic design.
