Debunking Venezuelan Celebration Footage and AI-Generated Pictures of Maduro.
Synthetic pictures purporting to show Venezuela's president detained after his apprehension by the US have gained tens of millions of impressions on social media.
The Way Fake Pictures of the President Appeared Soon After
Initial fake AI image apparently showing him being escorted off a aircraft surfaced within hours. This image was absent from any authoritative US channels; it was instead posted on the platform X by an profile describing itself as an “AI video art enthusiast”.
Our analysis used an AI-watermark detector, which found the image was created or altered with Google AI.
More synthetic images started circulating in the ensuing hours, purporting to present additional perspectives of Maduro detained. Noticeable logos on the graphics show they originated from an Instagram profile named ultravfx.
The detection tool indicates all of these images were likewise generated or edited Google AI.
Authentic Image Released but Fakes Persisted
Donald Trump posted the first real photo of Maduro handcuffed aboard the USS Iwo Jima on that morning. Yet following this real photo was published, synthetic images kept circulating but were modified to include the grey tracksuit worn by Maduro.
Reverse image searches indicate these altered fabrications were first posted on TikTok by a graphic design account. Again, analysis confirms the new graphics were produced with Google AI.
Important Facts:
- Synthetic media gained traction following the announcement 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 pictures as AI-generated.
- Fake images persisted to spread and be updated even after the release of real images.
- The source of several fakes was traced to social media accounts focused on graphic design.
