Exposing Venezuelan Celebration Footage and AI Images of Nicolás Maduro.
Synthetic images purporting to portray Nicolás Maduro detained after his apprehension by the United States have amassed many millions of views online.
The Way AI Images of Maduro Surfaced Soon After
Initial fake AI image apparently showing him taken off a aircraft surfaced a brief time later. The graphic was absent from any official government accounts; rather, it was published on the platform X by an profile purporting to be an “AI video art enthusiast”.
We’ve checked the SynthID tool, determining the image was created or altered with AI tools.
Additional AI-generated pictures started circulating in the following hours, seemingly depicting additional perspectives of Maduro detained. Discernible logos on these images indicate they were posted by an Instagram profile called ultravfx.
SynthID indicates these additional pictures were also produced using AI technology.
Real Photo Released but Fabrications Persisted
Donald Trump released the initial authentic image of Maduro restrained aboard the US Navy ship on that morning. However, despite this confirmation was published, synthetic pictures persisted online but were altered to include the grey tracksuit seen on Maduro.
Online investigation reveal these updated fakes were initially shared on the video platform by a graphic design account. Once again, analysis says these further images were created or altered AI tools.
Main Takeaways:
- Deepfakes spread rapidly after the news of the president's apprehension.
- The initial fabricated picture was shared within hours on platform X.
- Tools like Google’s SynthID were used to verify the images as AI-generated.
- Fake images persisted to spread and evolve despite the publication of authentic images.
- The origin of many fakes was linked to specific online accounts focused on graphic design.
