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AI-generated pictures claiming to depict Nicolás Maduro detained after his apprehension by the United States have gained countless of impressions on social media.

The Way AI Images of the President Appeared Within Hours

Initial fabricated synthetic picture seemingly displaying him led off a plane circulated within hours. This image was not shared any official US channels; it was instead published on X by an profile purporting to be an “AI video art enthusiast”.

Verification involved an AI-watermark detector, which found the image was created or altered with Google AI.

More AI-generated pictures started circulating in the following period, appearing to show different views of Maduro in custody. Visible identifying marks on these images reveal they were posted by an Instagram account called ultravfx.

SynthID indicates all of these images were also produced using generative models.

Authentic Image Posted but Fabrications Continued

The former US president released the genuine photograph of Maduro in handcuffs aboard the USS Iwo Jima on that morning. However, despite the authentic image was made public, synthetic images continued to spread but were updated to incorporate the gray sweatsuit seen on Maduro.

Digital forensics reveal these updated fakes were initially shared on TikTok by a digital art account. Again, the AI-watermark detector confirms the new graphics were created or altered generative artificial intelligence.

Key Points:

• Deepfakes circulated quickly after the events of the president's apprehension.
• The first fake picture appeared within hours on platform X.
• Tools like Google’s SynthID were used to verify the images as inauthentic.
• Fake images persisted to spread and evolve even after the publication of authentic images.
• The source of many fakes was linked to specific online accounts dedicated to AI art.