Debunking Venezuela Celebration Videos and AI Images of Nicolás Maduro.
Computer-created pictures purporting to portray Venezuela's president detained after his apprehension by the United States have garnered many millions of views across the internet.
How AI Images of the President Surfaced Rapidly
Initial fabricated synthetic picture apparently displaying him being escorted off a aircraft circulated a brief time later. The graphic was not shared any official American sources; rather, it was uploaded on X by an profile purporting to be an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.
We’ve checked Google’s SynthID, which found the picture was created or altered with Google AI.
More synthetic images began to spread in the ensuing hours, seemingly depicting additional perspectives of Maduro under guard. Visible logos on these images show they originated from an Instagram account named ultravfx.
The detection tool says these additional images were likewise produced using Google AI.
Real Photo Released but Fabrications Continued
Donald Trump posted the initial authentic image of Maduro in handcuffs aboard the US Navy ship on Saturday morning. However, despite the authentic image was published, synthetic pictures continued to spread but were modified to show the grey tracksuit worn by Maduro.
Online investigation show these updated fakes were first posted on the video platform by a digital art account. Similarly, analysis found these subsequent pictures were created or altered generative artificial intelligence.
Important Facts:
- Deepfakes circulated quickly following the announcement of the president's apprehension.
- The first fake picture appeared on the same day on social media.
- Tools like AI-watermark detectors were used to identify the pictures as synthetic.
- Fake images persisted to spread and be updated even after the release of real photographs.
- The source of several fakes was traced to specific online profiles focused on AI art.
