Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned fake sexualized images of herself generated by artificial intelligence, warning that deepfakes represent a "dangerous tool" that can deceive, manipulate and target anyone, particularly as women in public life face disproportionate abuse online.
The far-right leader posted one of the fake AI-generated photos on her social media accounts one day ago and said the pictures, showing her in scanty underclothes, had been circulating in recent days. In a post on X, Meloni wrote, "In these days, several fake photos of me are circulating, generated with artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some zealous opponent." She added, "Check before you believe, and believe before you share. Because today it's happening to me; tomorrow it could happen to anyone."
Pattern of Sexualized Attacks
Meloni also included a reply from a social media user who appeared to have been taken in by the photo, who wrote that the prime minister's appearance in such attire was "shameful and unworthy of the institutional role she holds." The incident demonstrates how deepfakes can be weaponized to undermine women leaders through sexualization and manufactured scandal.
Doctored sexualised images of the prime minister have surfaced before, particularly one year ago on a pornographic website that included altered images of high-profile women. The recurring nature of these attacks underscores how technology is being exploited to target women in positions of power with fabricated sexual content designed to humiliate and delegitimize them.
Government Response and Legal Action
In response to the earlier incident, the government passed a law that criminalised deepfakes that cause "unjust harm" to the person depicted, representing an attempt to establish legal protections against this emerging form of digital abuse. Two years ago, Meloni sued two men for €100,000 who produced fake videos of the premier which they then posted on a US pornographic website, demonstrating her willingness to pursue legal remedies against perpetrators.
Inequality in Protection
Meloni said, "Deepfakes are a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate and target anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot." Her statement acknowledges a critical gap in protection: while a prime minister has resources to pursue legal action and public platforms to expose fabricated content, ordinary citizens—particularly women—lack the same means to defend themselves against similar attacks.
Why This Matters:
The weaponization of AI-generated deepfakes against women leaders reveals how emerging technologies can amplify existing patterns of gender-based harassment and disinformation. While Meloni has the institutional power and financial resources to fight back through lawsuits and public statements, countless women facing similar attacks lack access to legal recourse or platforms to clear their names. The incident highlights the urgent need for stronger regulatory frameworks that protect all individuals—not just those with power and resources—from AI-generated abuse. Italy's criminalization of harmful deepfakes represents a step toward accountability, but enforcement mechanisms and accessible remedies for ordinary citizens remain critical gaps. As AI tools become more sophisticated and accessible, the potential for manipulation, character assassination, and gendered attacks will only grow without robust public protections and digital literacy initiatives that help communities identify and resist fabricated content.