Debunking Venezuela Celebration Videos and AI-Generated Pictures of Maduro.

AI-generated images claiming to portray Nicolás Maduro in custody following his capture by the American authorities have amassed many millions of views on social media.

The Way Fake Pictures of the President Appeared Within Hours

Initial fake AI image seemingly displaying him led off a aircraft surfaced within hours. The graphic was not shared any authoritative American sources; it was instead posted on the platform X by an profile purporting to be an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.

We’ve checked Google’s SynthID, determining the picture was produced or modified with generative AI.

Additional AI-generated visuals started circulating in the following period, appearing to show additional perspectives of Maduro in custody. Visible identifying marks on the graphics show they were posted by an Instagram profile called ultravfx.

The detection tool indicates these additional images were likewise produced using AI technology.

Authentic Image Released but Fabrications Persisted

The former US president released the initial authentic image of Maduro restrained aboard the US Navy ship on Saturday morning. But even after this real photo was released, AI-generated images kept circulating but were modified to show the grey athletic wear seen on Maduro.

Digital forensics reveal the new fake images were originally uploaded on TikTok by a graphic design account. Again, analysis says the new graphics were produced with Google AI.

Main Takeaways:

• Deepfakes circulated quickly after the news of Maduro's capture.
• The first fake picture appeared within hours on social media.
• Tools like Google’s SynthID helped to verify the images as inauthentic.
• Fake images continued to spread and be updated even after the publication of real images.
• The source of several fabricated images was linked to social media profiles dedicated to graphic design.