Meloni condemns AI-generated lingerie images as a deliberate political attack
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday denounced the circulation of artificial intelligence-generated images depicting her in lingerie, describing the fabricated photographs as a deliberate political attack and warning that deepfake technology poses a threat to anyone who lacks her public profile to fight back.
Meloni stated in a public post that several fake images of her had been created using artificial intelligence and spread online as if they were real by political adversaries. Rather than simply issuing a denial, she chose to publish one of the images on her Facebook page, where she appeared to be seated on a bed in underwear, in order to expose the manipulation directly. "I have to admit that whoever created them, at least in the attached case, also improved me quite a bit," she said, before turning to the broader implications. "But the problem goes beyond me. Deepfakes are a dangerous tool because they can deceive, manipulate, and target anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot."
Meloni urged the public to approach online content with caution and apply a consistent standard before engaging with it. "One rule should always apply: verify before believing, and think before sharing," she said. She framed the episode as evidence that political opponents are prepared to use any means available to attack her and spread falsehoods, and noted that the original post containing the fabricated image had been accompanied by outraged commentary describing the photo as shameful and unworthy of an Italian head of government, phrasing her allies believe was deliberately chosen to lend the image credibility before it could be rebutted.
Tuesday's incident is not the first time Meloni has been targeted with manipulated imagery. Two years ago, she filed a defamation lawsuit against a man from Sardinia accused of creating deepfake pornographic images using her likeness and distributing them online. That case remains ongoing.
The episode has reignited debate in Italy and across Europe about the legal frameworks needed to address AI-manipulated media. Both Italy and the European Union have taken steps to regulate artificial intelligence, with the EU AI Act entering into force in 2024, but enforcement mechanisms specifically covering non-consensual sexual deepfakes remain underdeveloped. By emphasizing that ordinary citizens lack the means to defend themselves as she can, Meloni reinforced calls from advocates for stronger protections against AI-generated abuse targeting private individuals, a category of harm that existing frameworks have so far struggled to address effectively.
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