Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Warns of AI-Generated Deepfakes Amid Growing Threat to Public Figures

On 5 May 2026, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted an AI-generated image of herself in lingerie on a bed, highlighting a deepfake. She said the picture had been shared by political opponents as a genuine photograph and urged citizens to verify content before believing or sharing it.

ABC News Australia

The incident follows a 2024 libel suit in which Meloni sued a Sardinian man for creating pornographic deepfakes using her likeness. In September 2025, Italy became the first EU member to approve an AI law, introducing prison terms of one to five years for illegal distribution of AI-generated content. The law aligns with the EU’s 2024 AI Act and aims to curb image-based abuse.

The Guardian

• Italy’s AI law imposes 1-5 year imprisonment for harmful deepfakes, with harsher terms for AI-enabled fraud.

The Guardian

• UN Women’s 2025 survey of 119 countries found women in public life face disproportionate AI-driven harassment, nearly all cases involving female politicians.

Giorgia Meloni deepfakes & AI violence against women

• Police shut down a site with >700 000 subscribers that hosted sexualised deepfakes of multiple politicians, opening investigations for revenge-porn, defamation and extortion.

The Guardian

Meloni’s office said deepfakes “can deceive, manipulate, and strike anyone,” adding “the point goes beyond me.” The government cited the AI law as a deterrent and pledged enforcement resources. UN Women warned that “AI is making abuse easier and more damaging, fuelling the erosion of hard-won rights.” The European Commission reaffirmed its plan for mandatory labeling of AI-generated media under the EU marking regime.

The Guardian

Human-rights groups say sexualised deepfakes overwhelmingly target women, reinforcing misogyny. Critics note the creator of the Meloni image remains unidentified, limiting accountability. Some commentators question whether legal penalties can keep pace with the rapid diffusion of AI tools.

Giorgia Meloni calls out sexualised deepfake, warns of growing threat to women in politics

Sources differ on the platform where the deepfake first spread—some cite X (formerly Twitter), others mention Facebook. No investigation has confirmed the poster’s identity, leaving a gap in attribution.

Giorgia Meloni slams viral deepfake AI lingerie photo, warns of AI safety gaps

• “I must admit that whoever created them, at least in the attached case, has also improved me quite a bit,” — Giorgia Meloni

The Straits Times

• “Deepfakes are a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate, and strike anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot.” — Giorgia Meloni

The Independent

• “One rule should always apply: verify before believing, and think before sharing.” — Giorgia Meloni

ABC News Australia

• “Meloni wrote on Facebook on Tuesday: “In recent days, several fake images of me have been circulating, generated using artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some overzealous opponents.” — Giorgia Meloni

The Guardian

The Italian AI law will become fully operative in August 2026, requiring AI providers to label synthetic media. Prosecutors continue to investigate the deepfake website, and the EU is expected to finalize its AI-content marking framework later this year. Monitoring groups anticipate legal actions against creators of non-consensual deepfakes, especially those targeting women in politics.

Giorgia Meloni deepfakes & AI violence against women