Debunking Venezuela Celebration Videos and AI Images of Maduro.
Synthetic graphics purporting to portray Nicolás Maduro in custody after his apprehension by the United States have amassed countless of views on social media.
How Fake Pictures of Maduro Emerged Rapidly
Initial inauthentic AI image seemingly displaying him taken off a aircraft circulated a brief time later. The picture was not shared any official government accounts; it was instead published on the platform X by an profile purporting to be an “AI video art enthusiast”.
Verification involved Google’s SynthID, determining the picture was produced or modified with generative AI.
More AI-generated visuals began to spread in the following hours, seemingly depicting additional perspectives of the leader detained. Noticeable logos on the graphics reveal they were posted by an Instagram account named ultravfx.
SynthID indicates the further images were also created or altered AI technology.
Authentic Image Posted but Fabrications Continued
The former US president shared the genuine photograph of Maduro handcuffed aboard the US Navy ship on that morning. But even after this confirmation was made public, AI-generated pictures persisted online but were modified to include the grey athletic wear worn by Maduro.
Online investigation reveal these altered fabrications were first posted on the video platform by a digital art profile. Again, SynthID found the new graphics were created or altered AI tools.
Key Points:
- Synthetic media spread rapidly after the events of the president's apprehension.
- The first fake picture was shared very quickly on platform X.
- Tools like AI-watermark detectors helped to identify the pictures as AI-generated.
- Fake images persisted to circulate and be updated even after the publication of authentic images.
- The source of several fakes was traced to social media profiles focused on AI art.
