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Synthetic pictures purporting to depict Nicolás Maduro under arrest after his capture by the United States have amassed many millions of impressions across the internet.

How Fake Pictures of Maduro Emerged Soon After

The first fake synthetic picture seemingly displaying him being escorted off a plane surfaced shortly after. The picture was absent from any authoritative US channels; it was instead posted on X by an account purporting to be an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.

Our analysis used the SynthID tool, confirming the image was produced or modified with Google AI.

More synthetic images were disseminated in the following hours, purporting to present additional perspectives of the leader detained. Noticeable identifying marks on the graphics reveal they originated from an Instagram profile named ultravfx.

AI analysis confirms the further images were also generated or edited AI technology.

Authentic Image Released but Fakes Persisted

The former US president posted the initial authentic image of Maduro in handcuffs aboard the USS Iwo Jima on that morning. Yet following the authentic image was made public, synthetic images continued to spread but were altered to show the grey tracksuit worn by Maduro.

Reverse image searches reveal the new fake images were initially shared on TikTok by a digital art profile. Again, analysis found the new graphics were created or altered Google AI.

Important Facts:

• Synthetic media circulated quickly after the events of Maduro's capture.
• The initial fabricated image was shared within hours on platform X.
• Detection software like Google’s SynthID helped to verify the images as synthetic.
• Fake images persisted to spread and evolve even after the release of real images.
• The source of several fabricated images was linked to social media profiles focused on AI art.