Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has vehemently criticized the widespread circulation of AI-generated deepfake images depicting her, including one particularly impactful image showing her in lingerie, which quickly went viral online. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Meloni addressed the issue, stating, “In recent days, several fake images of me have been circulating, generated using artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some overzealous opponents.” She humorously noted that the creators "even improved my appearance quite a bit," but swiftly pivoted to the serious implications, asserting, “But the fact remains that, in order to attack and spread falsehoods, people are now willing to use absolutely anything.”

The image she shared, depicting her in lingerie seated on a bed, had previously caused significant condemnation from users who mistook it for genuine content, with some expressing outrage over a prime minister presenting herself in such a manner. Meloni denounced this phenomenon as a form of cyberbullying, cautioning that AI-generated images are an increasingly perilous tool capable of misleading and harming individuals. She emphasized the broader societal risk, stating, “The issue goes beyond me. Deepfakes are a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate and target anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot. For this reason, one rule should always apply: verify before believing, and think before sharing. Because today it happens to me, tomorrow it could happen to anyone.”

Combating the risks posed by artificial intelligence and deepfakes has become a cornerstone of Meloni’s far-right government’s agenda. Last September, Italy distinguished itself as the first EU country to approve a comprehensive law regulating the use of AI. This pioneering legislation introduces severe penalties, including prison terms, for those who deploy the technology to cause harm, specifically citing the creation of deepfakes, and also places important limits on children’s access to such technologies. Meloni’s government highlighted that this law, which aligns with the European Union’s landmark EU AI Act, represents a decisive stride in shaping the development and utilization of artificial intelligence across the nation.

The impetus for such robust legislation was partly fueled by a prior scandal involving a pornographic website that published doctored images of prominent Italian women, including both Prime Minister Meloni and opposition leader Elly Schlein. These images, which were lifted from social media or public appearances and subsequently altered with vulgar, sexist captions, were shared on a platform boasting over 700,000 subscribers. Many of these manipulated images targeted female politicians across various party lines, overtly emphasizing body parts or implying sexualized poses. Italian police ultimately ordered the site’s shutdown, and prosecutors in Rome initiated an investigation into alleged offenses such as the unlawful dissemination of sexually explicit images (often referred to as revenge porn), defamation, and extortion.

Meloni’s recent public stand on deepfakes also resonates with her personal legal battles against such digital abuses. Her post on Tuesday comes over a year after she appeared in court to demand punishment for two men, Alessio Scurosu and his father Roberto from Sardinia, who allegedly made and shared fake explicit videos of her online. She had filed a defamation suit back in 2024 related to this incident. Her lawyers previously stated that the Prime Minister's primary motivation for pursuing the case was to “send a message to women who are victims of this kind of abuse of power not to be afraid to press charges.” She passionately articulated her belief that stronger laws against deepfakes are essential, emphasizing, “With the advent of artificial intelligence, if we let the face of some woman be mounted on the body of another woman, our daughters will find themselves in these situations, which is exactly why I consider it legitimate to wage this war.”

The problem of deepfake abuse extends far beyond Italian politics, affecting public figures globally. Female celebrities have frequently been primary targets of explicit deepfake images, with notable incidents dating back to 2018, featuring figures like Natalie Portman. More recently, Marvel actress Scarlett Johansson was targeted last year with a deepfake video advertisement, and in 2024, deepfake images of singer Taylor Swift went viral, garnering millions of views before being removed. Emma Watson, the Harry Potter star, also appeared in a deepfake ad on social media in March of that year, depicting her in a sexual act. This broader context underscores the urgent need for comprehensive regulation and increased awareness, aligning with Italy’s human-centric, transparent, and safe approach to AI use, while prioritizing innovation, cybersecurity, and privacy protections.