Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has initiated a high-stakes legal battle against tech behemoth Meta, seeking €2 million (£1.8 million) in damages. The lawsuit stems from a deeply damaging deepfake pornographic video that circulated extensively on its flagship platform, Facebook.
The offending video, which used a digitally altered face of Ms Meloni on another woman's body, was posted to a fake Facebook profile in 2020. Despite its fraudulent nature, the clip remained live on the platform for over a year, amassing millions of views and causing significant personal distress to the Italian leader.
A Landmark Case for Digital Accountability
This lawsuit, filed in Rome, is being hailed as a potential landmark case. It directly challenges the accountability of social media giants for the harmful content hosted on their platforms. Ms Meloni's legal team argues that Meta failed in its duty to act with promptness and efficiency in removing the fabricated content, even after it was officially reported.
The case shines a harsh spotlight on the rampant issue of AI-generated deepfakes, particularly those targeting women in the public eye for harassment and defamation.
The Human and Political Cost
Beyond the financial claim, the suit details the profound personal and reputational harm inflicted upon Ms Meloni. Her lawyers stated the video caused her an 'irreparable damage' to her reputation and was a source of 'great embarrassment'.
The incident also forced her young daughter to confront the vile content, adding a layer of personal anguish to the public scandal. The case underscores the very real human cost behind the proliferation of digitally manipulated media.
Meta's Response and the Road Ahead
While Meta has yet to issue a formal public statement on the specific lawsuit, the company typically emphasises its policies against synthetic and non-consensual intimate imagery. It maintains that it uses a combination of automated technology and human review to identify and remove such violations.
The outcome of this legal proceeding in an Italian court could set a powerful precedent for how digital platforms are regulated within the European Union, particularly under the new Digital Services Act, which imposes stricter content moderation requirements.
