Debunking Venezuelan Victory Videos and AI Images of Maduro.
Synthetic images purporting to show Nicolás Maduro in custody following his apprehension by the US have amassed many millions of impressions on social media.
The Way AI Images of Maduro Appeared Within Hours
Initial fabricated synthetic picture apparently displaying him led off a plane circulated within hours. The graphic was not shared any official American sources; rather, it was uploaded on the platform X by an account describing itself as an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.
We’ve checked an AI-watermark detector, which found the picture was generated or edited with generative AI.
Further AI-generated pictures began to spread in the subsequent hours, purporting to present more angles of Maduro detained. Discernible logos on these pictures indicate they came from an Instagram account called ultravfx.
AI analysis indicates these additional pictures were likewise produced using Google AI.
Real Photo Released but Fabrications Persisted
Donald Trump posted the genuine photograph of Nicolás Maduro in handcuffs aboard the USS Iwo Jima on that morning. But even after this real photo was made public, synthetic images kept circulating but were altered to incorporate the gray sweatsuit seen on Maduro.
Reverse image searches indicate these altered fabrications were first posted on the video platform by a digital art profile. Again, analysis found these further images were produced with Google AI.
Key Points:
- AI-generated content spread rapidly after the news of Maduro's capture.
- The first fake image was shared within hours on social media.
- Tools like AI-watermark detectors were used to verify the pictures as inauthentic.
- Fabrications persisted to circulate and be updated despite the release of authentic photographs.
- The origin of several fabricated images was traced to social media profiles focused on graphic design.
