2017 video shared as protests after recent Venezuelan presidential election

What is the claim? 

Protests have erupted in Venezuela following the announcement of the presidential election results, which confirmed a third term for incumbent Nicolás Maduro. The opposition has alleged vote-counting irregularities and is demanding that the tally be made public. Protesters are calling on Maduro to "acknowledge his defeat," while several governments, including those of the U.S., Spain, Chile, and Peru, have questioned the legitimacy of the results.

Amid these developments, a 40-second video showing a large crowd near a bridge with police using tear gas has circulated on social media, purportedly depicting the ongoing protests in Venezuela. One post on X (formerly Twitter) shared the video with the caption: “The brave people of Venezuela are standing up to the disgusting dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. Even tonight, we might see the end of this evil regime. #Venezuela #VenezuelaLibre #VenezuelaLibreCarajo.”

Other users have shared the video with similar claims, with archived versions available here, here, here, and here.

Screenshots of viral posts circulating on social media. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts) 

However, the now-viral video is old and unrelated to current demonstrations.

What did we find? 

A reverse image search of the video led us to posts shared on X dated April 20, 2017, that featured the same clip. The posts described it as showing protests in Venezuela. Additionally, Diario La Capital de Mar del Plata, an Argentine newspaper, uploaded the video to YouTube (archived here) on April 20, 2017. The Spanish caption translates to, “Readers send an unpublished video of the repression in Venezuela.

A comparison of the viral clip with the 2017 YouTube video confirmed multiple similarities, verifying that the video is not recent.

Comparison between the viral and 2017 video. (Source: X/YouTube/ Diario La Capital de Mar del Plata)

A Google search further revealed a report by El Diario, a Venezuelan media outlet, published on April 19, 2017. The report included similar images of the bridge and protests seen in the viral clip, noting demonstrations against Maduro's regime and the use of tear gas to disperse crowds.

The Washington Post described the 2017 protests as “the mother of all protests,” featuring images from different angles than the viral clip, indicating it was from 2017. BBC News (archived here) also reported on the 2017 protests, highlighting demands for new elections amid Venezuela’s economic crisis.

We also reviewed current footage of protests in Venezuela from reputable sources such as AP News, Reuters, and NBC News. None matched the viral clip, further confirming that it is unrelated to the 2024 protests.

The verdict

A 2017 video of anti-government protests in Venezuela has been misleadingly shared as if it depicts the current demonstrations against the 2024 presidential election results.