Debunking Venezuela Celebration Footage and AI-Generated Pictures of Nicolás Maduro.
Synthetic graphics claiming to portray Venezuela's president under arrest following his apprehension by the United States have garnered many millions of views across the internet.
The Way AI Images of the President Emerged Within Hours
The first fabricated synthetic picture apparently showing him taken off a aircraft surfaced within hours. The graphic was not shared any official government accounts; it was instead uploaded on the platform X by an profile describing itself as an “AI video art enthusiast”.
Verification involved an AI-watermark detector, confirming the picture was created or altered with AI tools.
Further AI-generated images started circulating in the ensuing period, purporting to present additional perspectives of Maduro detained. Noticeable watermarks on these pictures reveal they originated from an Instagram account named ultravfx.
SynthID says the further pictures were similarly created or altered generative models.
Authentic Image Released but Fakes Persisted
The former US president released the first real photo of Nicolás Maduro in handcuffs aboard the USS Iwo Jima on Saturday morning. However, despite the authentic image was made public, synthetic images persisted online but were modified to show the grey tracksuit seen on Maduro.
Reverse image searches show these altered fabrications were initially shared on the video platform by a graphic design profile. Similarly, the AI-watermark detector confirms these subsequent pictures were created or altered Google AI.
Important Facts:
- Synthetic media spread rapidly after the announcement of Maduro's capture.
- The first fake image appeared within hours on social media.
- Detection software like AI-watermark detectors were used to verify the pictures as synthetic.
- Fake images continued to spread and be updated despite the release of real photographs.
- The source of many fabricated images was linked to specific online profiles focused on graphic design.
