Name: How deepfakes and AI filled the information gap after Maduro’s capture
Uploaded: 2026-01-08T17:02:00.391Z
Duration: 1 min 49 s
Description: An information void following the U.S. capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro was quickly filled with AI‑generated images and videos, as well as old or out‑of‑context clips that went viral on social media. Many posts falsely showed his arrest or celebrations, complicating efforts to verify real events.

An information void following the U.S. capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro was quickly filled with AI‑generated images and videos, as well as old or out‑of‑context clips that went viral on social media. Many posts falsely showed his arrest or celebrations, complicating efforts to verify real events.

Caracas

After the United States captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, social media platforms saw a surge in misleading images and videos, many of which were generated by artificial intelligence. Even AI experts found it challenging to differentiate between authentic and fabricated content, as viral photos and videos circulated widely, some even shared by prominent political figures.

AI-generated content included altered images of Maduro and videos falsely depicting public reactions in Venezuela. While reactions within the country were mixed, with both support and opposition to the capture, social media often presented a skewed narrative. The European Union responded by emphasizing the need to uphold international law and human rights in the aftermath.

How deepfakes and AI filled the information gap after Maduro’s capture

How was the information vacuum about Maduro's capture filled with deepfakes? Out of all of these images and videos, can you tell what's real and what's not? The answer is probably no. Even for AI experts, it's tricky. After the United States captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on the 3rd of January, social media was flooded with misleading videos and images. This photo, which many found hard to believe, went viral after it was shared by US President Donald Trump. The thing is, it doesn't look all that different to this image, which is in fact AI generated. See, Maduro is not dressed in the same clothes, instead wearing pyjamas. This picture was also spread across social media, including by Portugal's far-right Che Guevara. But AI experts detected a synth ID on it, which is an invisible watermark that flags AI content created with Gemini, Google's AI tool. This claims to show Maduro supporters protesting on the streets of Venezuela. In reality, the footage is from mid-November 2025, showcasing a pro-Maduro youth march. There have also been lots of AI videos claiming to depict Venezuelans who are overjoyed at Maduro's downfall. There were mixed reactions inside Venezuela, with Maduro supporters denouncing his capture while others have backed it. But on social media, misleading videos have shared one-sided accounts. In its response to the capture, the EU stressed the importance of respecting international law and human rights, as well as Venezuelans' rights to determine their own future.

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