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Computer-created graphics claiming to show Nicolás Maduro under arrest after his apprehension by the United States have garnered many millions of views on social media.

How Fake Pictures of the President Surfaced Rapidly

Initial fake AI image apparently showing him taken off a plane emerged within hours. The graphic was unpublished by any official American sources; it was instead published on the platform X by an profile purporting to be an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”.

We’ve checked Google’s SynthID, confirming the image was created or altered with AI tools.

More AI-generated visuals started circulating in the subsequent period, seemingly depicting different views of the leader under guard. Visible watermarks on these images reveal they originated from an Instagram account named ultravfx.

The detection tool indicates these additional images were similarly produced using Google AI.

Authentic Image Released but Fabrications Continued

The former US president posted the first real photo of Nicolás Maduro handcuffed aboard the USS Iwo Jima on Saturday morning. However, despite the authentic image was published, synthetic pictures continued to spread but were altered to include the grey tracksuit seen on Maduro.

Online investigation indicate these updated fakes were first posted on the video platform by a digital art account. Again, SynthID found the new graphics were generated or edited generative artificial intelligence.

Important Facts:

• Synthetic media spread rapidly following the announcement of Maduro's capture.
• The first fake image was shared very quickly on social media.
• Detection software like AI-watermark detectors helped to identify the pictures as AI-generated.
• Fake images continued to circulate and evolve despite the release of real photographs.
• The source of several fakes was traced to social media accounts focused on AI art.