Unmasking Venezuela Victory Videos and AI Images of Nicolás Maduro.
Computer-created images purporting to portray Nicolás Maduro under arrest after his capture by the United States have garnered many millions of views online.
The Way AI Images of the President Surfaced Rapidly
The first fabricated AI image seemingly showing him taken off a aircraft circulated a brief time later. This image was unpublished by any authoritative US channels; rather, it was published on X by an account purporting to be an “AI video art enthusiast”.
Verification involved the SynthID tool, determining the image was generated or edited with AI tools.
Additional AI-generated images were disseminated in the ensuing period, purporting to present different views of Maduro in custody. Discernible watermarks on these images indicate they came from an Instagram account named ultravfx.
The detection tool indicates the further pictures were also produced using generative models.
Authentic Image Posted but Fakes Persisted
The former US president shared the initial authentic image of Maduro handcuffed aboard the US Navy ship on Saturday morning. However, despite this confirmation was published, AI-generated images kept circulating but were altered to include the grey tracksuit worn by Maduro.
Reverse image searches indicate these altered fabrications were originally uploaded on the video platform by a graphic design account. Again, SynthID found the new graphics were created or altered generative artificial intelligence.
Key Points:
- AI-generated content gained traction following the news of the president's apprehension.
- The first fake image was shared very quickly on social media.
- Tools like AI-watermark detectors were used to identify the pictures as inauthentic.
- Fake images continued to spread and evolve even after the release of authentic images.
- The source of many fakes was traced to social media accounts dedicated to graphic design.
