Debunking Venezuelan Celebration Footage and AI Images of Nicolás Maduro.
Synthetic images purporting to depict Nicolás Maduro in custody after his capture by the US have gained tens of millions of impressions on social media.
The Way AI Images of Maduro Emerged Within Hours
The first fake synthetic picture apparently displaying him taken off a plane surfaced within hours. The picture was not shared any verified American sources; it was instead published on X by an profile describing itself as an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.
Our analysis used the SynthID tool, which found the image was created or altered with AI tools.
More synthetic images started circulating in the following period, purporting to present more angles of Maduro in custody. Discernible watermarks on the graphics reveal they came from an Instagram account named ultravfx.
AI analysis indicates the further pictures were also created or altered AI technology.
Authentic Image Released but Fakes Persisted
Donald Trump released the genuine photograph of Maduro restrained aboard the USS Iwo Jima on that morning. However, despite this real photo was made public, synthetic pictures continued to spread but were updated to show the grey tracksuit seen on Maduro.
Online investigation indicate these altered fabrications were first posted on the video platform by a graphic design account. Once again, the AI-watermark detector confirms these subsequent pictures were generated or edited AI tools.
Key Points:
- Synthetic media circulated quickly after the events of the president's apprehension.
- The first fake image was shared very quickly on platform X.
- Detection software like AI-watermark detectors were used to confirm the pictures as synthetic.
- Fabrications persisted to circulate and evolve even after the publication of real images.
- The source of many fabricated images was traced to specific online profiles focused on AI art.
