Exposing Venezuela Victory Footage and AI Images of Maduro.
AI-generated pictures purporting to portray Nicolás Maduro detained following his capture by the US have garnered tens of millions of impressions online.
How AI Images of the President Emerged Within Hours
Initial fabricated synthetic picture seemingly showing him led off a plane surfaced a brief time later. The graphic was not shared any authoritative government accounts; rather, it was posted on the platform X by an profile purporting to be an “AI video art enthusiast”.
We’ve checked an AI-watermark detector, determining the image was produced or modified with generative AI.
Additional AI-generated pictures were disseminated in the subsequent period, appearing to show additional perspectives of Maduro detained. Noticeable logos on the graphics show they came from an Instagram profile named ultravfx.
The detection tool indicates the further pictures were similarly created or altered generative models.
Real Photo Released but Fabrications Continued
The former US president shared the first real photo of Nicolás Maduro in handcuffs aboard the USS Iwo Jima on that morning. However, despite this real photo was released, AI-generated pictures continued to spread but were altered to include the grey athletic wear seen on Maduro.
Online investigation indicate these altered fabrications were initially shared on TikTok by a digital art profile. Similarly, analysis says these subsequent pictures were created or altered Google AI.
Important Facts:
- Deepfakes spread rapidly following the events of Maduro's capture.
- The first fake picture appeared on the same day on social media.
- Detection software like Google’s SynthID helped to identify the images as synthetic.
- Fake images continued to spread and evolve despite the publication of authentic photographs.
- The origin of many fakes was traced to specific online profiles focused on graphic design.
