Debunking Venezuelan Victory Videos and AI Images of Nicolás Maduro.
AI-generated images claiming to depict Venezuela's president under arrest following his capture by the US have gained tens of millions of impressions online.
How AI Images of the President Emerged Soon After
Initial fabricated synthetic picture apparently showing him taken off a aircraft surfaced a brief time later. The picture was absent from any verified US channels; it was instead uploaded on the platform X by an account purporting to be an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.
We’ve checked an AI-watermark detector, determining the picture was generated or edited with generative AI.
More synthetic visuals started circulating in the subsequent period, seemingly depicting different views of the leader detained. Noticeable watermarks on these images show they came from an Instagram account called ultravfx.
The detection tool confirms the further images were also created or altered Google AI.
Real Photo Released but Fabrications Persisted
The former US president released the initial authentic image of Nicolás Maduro restrained aboard the US Navy ship on Saturday morning. However, despite this real photo was made public, synthetic pictures kept circulating but were altered to incorporate the grey tracksuit seen on Maduro.
Digital forensics indicate these updated fakes were initially shared on TikTok by a digital art profile. Once again, analysis found the new graphics were created or altered AI tools.
Important Facts:
- Synthetic media circulated quickly after the announcement of Maduro's capture.
- The initial fabricated picture appeared on the same day on social media.
- Tools like AI-watermark detectors helped to confirm the images as synthetic.
- Fabrications persisted to circulate and evolve even after the publication of authentic photographs.
- The origin of many fabricated images was linked to social media accounts dedicated to AI art.
