Unmasking Venezuelan Victory Footage and AI-Generated Pictures of Nicolás Maduro.
AI-generated images claiming to portray Nicolás Maduro under arrest following his apprehension by the United States have gained many millions of impressions on social media.
How Fake Pictures of the President Surfaced Soon After
Initial inauthentic AI image apparently displaying him being escorted off a plane circulated shortly after. This image was not shared any official government accounts; rather, it was posted on the platform X by an profile purporting to be an “AI video art enthusiast”.
Our analysis used an AI-watermark detector, determining the image was generated or edited with Google AI.
More AI-generated pictures started circulating in the ensuing hours, appearing to show additional perspectives of Maduro detained. Discernible identifying marks on these images show they came from an Instagram account called ultravfx.
SynthID confirms these additional images were similarly produced using AI technology.
Real Photo Released but Fabrications Continued
The former US president posted the first real photo of Maduro handcuffed aboard the USS Iwo Jima on that morning. But even after this confirmation was made public, AI-generated pictures persisted online but were altered to include the grey athletic wear seen on Maduro.
Online investigation reveal these altered fabrications were originally uploaded on the video platform by a digital art profile. Once again, the AI-watermark detector says the new graphics were produced with Google AI.
Main Takeaways:
- AI-generated content circulated quickly after the announcement of Maduro's capture.
- The first fake picture was shared on the same day on social media.
- Tools like AI-watermark detectors were used to confirm the pictures as synthetic.
- Fake images continued to spread and evolve even after the release of authentic images.
- The origin of several fabricated images was linked to social media profiles focused on graphic design.
