Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has warned about the dangers of deepfake technology after several AI-generated fake images of herself circulated online. The far-right leader posted one of the fabricated photos on her social media accounts on Tuesday, cautioning the public about the deceptive nature of such content. "In these days, several fake photos of me are circulating, generated with artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some zealous opponent," Meloni stated, adding, "Deepfakes are a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate and target anyone." Police reportedly investigated the matter after a similar Facebook page was shut down. Meloni urged individuals to "Check before you believe, and believe before you share. Because today it’s happening to me; tomorrow it could happen to anyone." She further noted, "I can defend myself. Many others cannot."
Deepfakes: A Dangerous Tool
The AI-generated image circulating online depicted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in revealing clothing and an embarrassing pose. Meloni stated, "In these days, several fake photos of me are circulating, generated with artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some zealous opponent." She described deepfakes as a "dangerous tool" that can deceive, manipulate, and target anyone, emphasizing that while she can defend herself, "Many others cannot." Meloni urged the public to "Check before you believe, and believe before you share. Because today it’s happening to me; tomorrow it could happen to anyone." Reports indicate female politicians globally have increasingly become victims of AI-generated deepfake pornography or sexualized images.
Calls for Verification and Action
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni advised people to follow the rule of "verify before believing, and believe before sharing" in response to the spread of AI-generated images. The public was also urged to report similar websites that host such content. Meloni had previously expressed anger in March over fake images depicting her and other female leaders in inappropriate situations on a specific website. This incident sparked debate regarding whether existing "revenge porn" laws sufficiently cover cases where public appearances are modified to create such images. A social media user, commenting on the deepfake, replied that the prime minister's appearance in such attire was "shameful and unworthy of the institutional role she holds."
Broader Implications and Past Incidents
Reports indicated the fake image’s circulation on social media platforms generated controversy among Italians. Doctored sexualized images of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have surfaced previously, including on a pornographic website last year featuring altered images of high-profile women. In 2024, Ms. Meloni initiated a lawsuit against two individuals for €100,000, alleging they produced fake videos of her and posted them on a US pornographic website. Meloni stated, "In these days, several fake photos of me are circulating, generated with artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some zealous opponent."
The Italian government has criminalized deepfakes that cause "unjust harm" to the depicted individual. Meloni emphasized that deepfakes are "a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate and target anyone," adding, "I can defend myself. Many others cannot." She urged the public to "Check before you believe, and believe before you share. Because today it’s happening to me; tomorrow it could happen to anyone."