Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned the circulation of AI-generated deepfake images of her, including one where she is depicted in lingerie on a bed. In a statement on social media, Meloni labelled these images as fabrications likely disseminated by political adversaries aiming to tarnish her reputation and sway voter sentiment against her.
On Facebook, she expressed her dismay, stating, “Recently, various fake images of me have begun to circulate, created through artificial intelligence and falsely presented as real by overly zealous opponents.” In a light-hearted moment amidst the controversy, she acknowledged, “I must admit that whoever created them … even improved my appearance quite a bit,” but admonished that the malicious intent behind the creation of such images is serious.
Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister, highlighted that these attacks extend beyond mere personal affronts, observing, “The issue goes beyond me. Deepfakes are a dangerous tool because they can deceive, manipulate, and target anyone.” She emphasised the plight of less visible individuals who may lack the platform to defend themselves against similar fabrications. “Many others cannot,” she said, urging the public to be vigilant: “Verify before believing, and think before sharing. Because today it happens to me, tomorrow it could happen to anyone.”
This is not the first encounter Meloni has had with deepfakes; she was previously involved in a case concerning a man accused of creating and distributing pornographic deepfake images using her likeness. Currently, she has shared the fake images while the European Union investigates technology companies for permitting access to AI tools capable of generating fake explicit content.
In her message, Meloni pointed to the broader implications of this technology, signalling a significant concern for the potential of deepfakes to inflict harm and perpetrate deceit. She aims not only to set the record straight but also to raise awareness about the need for critical scrutiny of online content.