Debunking Venezuelan Celebration Videos and AI-Generated Pictures of Maduro.
Computer-created graphics purporting to show Venezuela's president in custody following his capture by the United States have amassed many millions of views across the internet.
How Fake Pictures of the President Emerged Soon After
Initial fake synthetic picture seemingly showing him taken off a aircraft circulated shortly after. The graphic was not shared any verified American sources; rather, it was posted on X by an account describing itself as an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.
We’ve checked an AI-watermark detector, determining the image was generated or edited with AI tools.
More AI-generated visuals were disseminated in the ensuing period, seemingly depicting more angles of Maduro detained. Noticeable watermarks on these images show they were posted by an Instagram account named ultravfx.
AI analysis says the further images were similarly generated or edited generative models.
Real Photo Released but Fabrications Continued
The former US president shared the initial authentic image of Nicolás Maduro handcuffed aboard the US Navy ship on Saturday morning. But even after the authentic image was made public, synthetic pictures kept circulating but were updated to incorporate the gray sweatsuit seen on Maduro.
Reverse image searches reveal the new fake images were initially shared on TikTok by a digital art profile. Again, SynthID says these further images were generated or edited Google AI.
Key Points:
- AI-generated content circulated quickly after the events of the president's apprehension.
- The initial fabricated picture appeared very quickly on social media.
- Detection software like Google’s SynthID were used to confirm the pictures as synthetic.
- Fabrications continued to spread and evolve even after the release of real images.
- The source of many fakes was traced to specific online profiles focused on AI art.
