Unmasking Venezuelan Victory Videos and AI Images of Maduro.
Computer-created graphics purporting to show Venezuela's president under arrest after his apprehension by the American authorities have amassed tens of millions of views online.
The Way Fake Pictures of Maduro Appeared Rapidly
Initial fake synthetic picture apparently displaying him taken off a plane surfaced shortly after. The graphic was not shared any official US channels; rather, it was posted on X by an account describing itself as an “AI video art enthusiast”.
Our analysis used an AI-watermark detector, which found the image was produced or modified with AI tools.
More synthetic images were disseminated in the following period, appearing to show additional perspectives of the leader detained. Visible watermarks on these pictures reveal they were posted by an Instagram account called ultravfx.
AI analysis indicates the further images were likewise produced using Google AI.
Authentic Image Released but Fakes Persisted
The former US president shared the initial authentic image of Maduro handcuffed aboard the US Navy ship on that morning. But even after the authentic image was made public, AI-generated pictures persisted online but were altered to show the grey athletic wear worn by Maduro.
Reverse image searches reveal these altered fabrications were originally uploaded on the video platform by a graphic design account. Similarly, SynthID says the new graphics were created or altered AI tools.
Important Facts:
- AI-generated content spread rapidly following the events of Maduro's capture.
- The initial fabricated image appeared very quickly on platform X.
- Detection software like Google’s SynthID helped to verify the images as AI-generated.
- Fake images continued to spread and be updated even after the publication of authentic images.
- The origin of several fabricated images was traced to social media accounts focused on graphic design.
