Debunking Venezuela Victory Videos and AI Images of Nicolás Maduro.
Computer-created graphics purporting to depict Venezuela's president under arrest after his apprehension by the US have gained tens of millions of impressions on social media.
The Way Fake Pictures of Maduro Surfaced Soon After
Initial fabricated synthetic picture apparently showing him taken off a aircraft circulated shortly after. This image was absent from any authoritative government accounts; it was instead uploaded on X by an account describing itself as an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.
We’ve checked the SynthID tool, confirming the picture was produced or modified with generative AI.
Additional synthetic images began to spread in the subsequent period, purporting to present more angles of the leader in custody. Visible identifying marks on these pictures reveal they were posted by an Instagram account named ultravfx.
The detection tool says the further pictures were similarly produced using generative models.
Authentic Image Posted but Fakes Persisted
The former US president released the genuine photograph of Nicolás Maduro restrained aboard the US Navy ship on Saturday morning. However, despite this confirmation was released, synthetic pictures persisted online but were modified to show the gray sweatsuit worn by Maduro.
Digital forensics reveal these altered fabrications were first posted on the video platform by a digital art profile. Similarly, the AI-watermark detector says these subsequent pictures were created or altered Google AI.
Key Points:
- Synthetic media gained traction following the events of the president's apprehension.
- The first fake image appeared on the same day on social media.
- Detection software like AI-watermark detectors were used to verify the images as inauthentic.
- Fake images continued to spread and evolve despite the release of authentic images.
- The origin of several fabricated images was linked to specific online accounts dedicated to AI art.