Debunking Venezuelan Victory Videos and AI-Generated Pictures of Maduro.
Synthetic pictures purporting to depict Nicolás Maduro in custody following his capture by the United States have amassed tens of millions of impressions online.
How Fake Pictures of Maduro Surfaced Rapidly
Initial inauthentic AI image seemingly displaying him taken off a plane emerged a brief time later. This image was absent from any verified American sources; rather, it was published on the platform X by an profile describing itself as an “AI video art enthusiast”.
Our analysis used an AI-watermark detector, determining the picture was generated or edited with AI tools.
More synthetic images began to spread in the following period, purporting to present different views of the leader in custody. Discernible logos on these pictures reveal they originated from an Instagram profile called ultravfx.
AI analysis says the further images were similarly created or altered AI technology.
Authentic Image Posted but Fabrications Persisted
The former US president shared the genuine photograph of Maduro handcuffed aboard the US Navy ship on that morning. However, despite the authentic image was released, synthetic images continued to spread but were modified to include the gray sweatsuit worn by Maduro.
Online investigation show these updated fakes were first posted on the video platform by a digital art profile. Similarly, SynthID confirms the new graphics were generated or edited generative artificial intelligence.
Main Takeaways:
- AI-generated content spread rapidly following the announcement of Maduro's capture.
- The first fake image appeared very quickly on social media.
- Tools like AI-watermark detectors were used to confirm the images as synthetic.
- Fabrications continued to circulate and be updated even after the publication of authentic images.
- The origin of many fakes was linked to social media profiles focused on graphic design.
