Exposing Venezuelan Victory Videos and AI-Generated Pictures of Nicolás Maduro.
Computer-created images purporting to show Nicolás Maduro detained following his apprehension by the US have garnered tens of millions of impressions across the internet.
The Way AI Images of the President Emerged Soon After
The first fabricated AI image seemingly displaying him being escorted off a aircraft surfaced a brief time later. The graphic was unpublished by any official American sources; it was instead uploaded on X by an account purporting to be an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.
Our analysis used the SynthID tool, which found the image was generated or edited with AI tools.
Additional synthetic visuals began to spread in the subsequent period, seemingly depicting more angles of Maduro detained. Noticeable identifying marks on the graphics indicate they came from an Instagram profile named ultravfx.
The detection tool indicates the further images were similarly created or altered AI technology.
Authentic Image Released but Fakes Persisted
Donald Trump released the genuine photograph of Maduro in handcuffs aboard the US Navy ship on that morning. Yet following the authentic image was made public, AI-generated pictures continued to spread but were altered to include the grey athletic wear worn by Maduro.
Reverse image searches indicate these altered fabrications were originally uploaded on TikTok by a digital art profile. Similarly, analysis confirms these further images were generated or edited Google AI.
Key Points:
- Synthetic media spread rapidly after the events of the president's apprehension.
- The initial fabricated image was shared within hours on social media.
- Tools like Google’s SynthID helped to verify the images as synthetic.
- Fake images continued to spread and be updated despite the publication of real photographs.
- The origin of several fakes was linked to social media accounts dedicated to graphic design.
