Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has publicly condemned the circulation of a deepfake photograph depicting her in bed wearing lingerie, calling it a political attack fueled by artificial intelligence. The image was shared on Facebook by Meloni herself, who included a screenshot of a post from a user named Roberto, who had allegedly distributed the manipulated photo with the comment that Meloni should feel "ashamed."
Meloni Warns Against Deepfakes
In her Facebook post, Meloni cautioned against sharing such images without verification, stating: "Deepfakes are a dangerous tool because they can deceive, manipulate and target anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot." She acknowledged that the manipulation "actually made me look a lot better," but emphasized that "the fact remains that, in order to attack and fabricate lies, people will now use absolutely anything."
Previous Incidents Involving Meloni's Likeness
This is not the first time Meloni's image has been manipulated. In February, a cherub in a Roman church bore a striking resemblance to the prime minister, sparking a minor church-state scandal. At the time, Meloni responded with humor, writing on social media: "No, I definitely don't look like an angel," accompanied by a laughing-crying emoji.
It remains unclear whether Meloni will report the deepfake incident to law enforcement, as urged by commenters on her post. The episode highlights the growing concern over AI-generated content and its potential to spread misinformation and target public figures.
