AI-generated videos of crowds celebrating Maduro's removal go viral after U.S. operation

After a U.S. operation removed Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026, AI-generated videos showing crowds celebrating spread widely online and were flagged by fact-checkers and platform note systems.

Following a U.S. operation that removed Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026, videos purporting to show Venezuelans celebrating have circulated widely online. Many of these clips were created with artificial intelligence and have been shared on platforms including TikTok, Instagram and X. Fact-checkers and platform note systems have flagged some of the videos as AI-generated or misleading. Governments and regulators are discussing laws and fines aimed at requiring labeling or penalizing unlabeled AI media. Key facts: - U.S. forces conducted an operation that led to Nicolás Maduro's removal on Jan. 3, 2026, as reported. - AI-generated videos showing crowds celebrating were widely shared on TikTok, Instagram and X, with some clips gaining millions of views. - Platforms and fact-checkers, including community notes on X and teams at BBC and AFP, flagged examples as AI-generated or misleading. - Governments are moving toward rules or fines for unlabeled AI content; examples noted include a proposed law in India and fines approved in Spain. Summary: The rapid spread of hyper-realistic AI clips has contributed to confusion around coverage of the event and drawn attention from fact-checkers and platform moderators. Some platforms have deployed detection and labeling tools, but results have been mixed. Undetermined at this time.