AI, outdated visuals fuel misinformation after Maduro's capture

Demonstrators gather outside the Kennedy Center, to protest U.S. actions in Venezuela, including the detention of President Nicolas Maduro and the U.S. military intervention, in Washington, DC, United States, on January 6, 2026. [AFP]

From AI deepfakes to recycled, outdated images, a surge of visual misinformation has inundated social media platforms after US forces seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a stunning raid on his Caracas home.

Collectively racking up millions of views, the fake or misleading posts underscore a new digital reality in which hyper-realistic misinformation competes for attention with –- and often drowns out -- authentic images and videos following major news events.