Unmasking Venezuelan Victory Footage and AI-Generated Pictures of Nicolás Maduro.
Computer-created pictures purporting to show Venezuela's president detained after his capture by the US have gained many millions of impressions online.
How Fake Pictures of the President Surfaced Within Hours
Initial fake AI image seemingly showing him being escorted off a aircraft surfaced shortly after. The graphic was unpublished by any verified US channels; it was instead posted on the platform X by an account purporting to be an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.
Our analysis used Google’s SynthID, confirming the picture was created or altered with generative AI.
More synthetic images were disseminated in the ensuing hours, seemingly depicting more angles of Maduro in custody. Discernible watermarks on these images reveal they came from an Instagram profile named ultravfx.
The detection tool confirms the further images were also generated or edited AI technology.
Authentic Image Released but Fabrications Continued
The former US president posted the genuine photograph of Maduro in handcuffs aboard the USS Iwo Jima on that morning. Yet following this real photo was made public, synthetic pictures continued to spread but were modified to show the grey athletic wear seen on Maduro.
Online investigation indicate these altered fabrications were initially shared on the video platform by a digital art profile. Again, analysis confirms the new graphics were generated or edited AI tools.
Important Facts:
- Synthetic media circulated quickly after the news of the president's apprehension.
- The first fake picture appeared within hours on social media.
- Detection software like AI-watermark detectors were used to confirm the pictures as inauthentic.
- Fake images persisted to circulate and evolve even after the publication of real images.
- The origin of several fabricated images was traced to social media accounts dedicated to AI art.
