Unmasking Venezuela Victory Videos and AI Images of Nicolás Maduro.
Synthetic graphics purporting to show Venezuela's president detained after his capture by the United States have amassed countless of views on social media.
The Way AI Images of Maduro Appeared Soon After
Initial fabricated AI image apparently showing him taken off a plane circulated shortly after. The graphic was unpublished by any authoritative government accounts; it was instead uploaded on the platform X by an account describing itself as an “AI video art enthusiast”.
Verification involved the SynthID tool, which found the image was generated or edited with generative AI.
Further AI-generated images were disseminated in the following hours, seemingly depicting additional perspectives of the leader under guard. Visible watermarks on these images show they were posted by an Instagram account called ultravfx.
AI analysis indicates these additional images were also produced using AI technology.
Real Photo Posted but Fabrications Continued
The former US president released the genuine photograph of Maduro handcuffed aboard the US Navy ship on Saturday morning. But even after the authentic image was released, synthetic images kept circulating but were altered to show the grey tracksuit worn by Maduro.
Online investigation reveal these altered fabrications were originally uploaded on the video platform by a digital art account. Again, SynthID confirms these subsequent pictures were produced with generative artificial intelligence.
Key Points:
- Synthetic media gained traction after the events of Maduro's capture.
- The initial fabricated picture was shared very quickly on platform X.
- Detection software like AI-watermark detectors helped to verify the images as inauthentic.
- Fake images continued to spread and be updated even after the publication of authentic images.
- The origin of many fakes was linked to social media accounts dedicated to AI art.
