Fact Check: Is the mugshot of Nicolas Maduro in a prison uniform real?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A widely shared image on social media claims to show the mugshots of recently deposed Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro, in a prison uniform, following his capture and indictment in the United States. The photo has attracted significant attention amid ongoing developments in the case. Let us examine the origins of the claim and fact-check it.
Claim: Mugshot shows Nicolas Maduro in prison uniform
The photo was first published on January 9 on the social media platform X, accompanied by a caption, 'Photo of Maduro serving a sentence in a US prison has been unveiled.'
The photo, which apparently shows Maduro in an orange prison uniform, with his hair and beard shaved, was viewed 290000 times so far.
The image was also shared on Chinese forum Zhihu, US-based Chinese-language news site Creaders.net, as well as in Spanish posts on X, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
While some users questioned the authenticity of the image, others commented on Maduro's shaven look and said he looks a lot 'cleaner' and 'spirited.'
Fact Check: The photo is AI-generated
The picture has been flagged as created using Google's AI tools, while analysis has found it contains several visual errors.
An analysis using Google's SynthID detector, a tool designed to identify AI-generated content, indicates a 'high' degree of confidence that the image was generated using the platform's AI tools.
According to an analysis using The Verification Plugin, also known as InVID-WeVerify, co-developed by AFP, found there is 'very strong evidence' that the visual was generated by AI.
Based on various photographs of Maduro, a prominent mole can be seen on his chin, and on the photo shared by President Donald Trump following his capture, which is missing in the viral mugshot.
Nicolas Maduro detained at notorious Brooklyn jail
Following a surprise US military operation that led to his capture, along with his wife, Cilia Flores, Maduro has been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn as he awaits trial on cocaine conspiracy charges.
The facility, which has previously housed numerous high-profile inmates, is known for repeated complaints involving safety concerns, lockdowns, power failures, and inadequate medical care.
