Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned AI-generated deepfakes of herself, acknowledging that while she can defend against such digital manipulation, "Many others cannot," revealing the class disparity in recourse against emerging technologies. The far-right leader posted one of the fake AI-generated photos on her social media accounts one day ago, stating that 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 a warning to the public: "Check before you believe, and believe before you share. Because today it’s happening to me; tomorrow it could happen to anyone." This statement highlights the widespread potential for digital deception, a product of advanced technological development under capital, yet it simultaneously underscores the unequal capacity for individuals to respond to such attacks.
The manipulative power of these deepfakes was demonstrated by a social media user's reply, included by Meloni, who appeared to have been deceived by the photo. This user wrote that the prime minister's appearance in such attire was "shameful and unworthy of the institutional role she holds," illustrating how fabricated content can be used to undermine public figures and sow disinformation.
The State's Defense of Power
Doctored sexualized images of the prime minister have surfaced before, with similar content appearing one year ago on a pornographic website that included altered images of high-profile women. In response to these incidents, the government, acting to protect the image and authority of its ruling class, passed a law that criminalized deepfakes causing "unjust harm" to the person depicted. This legislative action demonstrates the state's function in safeguarding the interests and reputations of those in power.
Further illustrating the use of state mechanisms by the powerful, Meloni herself initiated legal action two years ago. She sued two men for €100,000 who produced fake videos of the premier and subsequently posted them on a US pornographic website. This recourse to the legal system, involving significant financial demands, is a privilege largely unavailable to the working class or economically dispossessed individuals who lack the capital to pursue such extensive litigation.
Technology's Unequal Impact
Meloni reiterated her concern, stating, "Deepfakes are a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate and target anyone." Her subsequent admission, "I can defend myself. Many others cannot," serves as a direct acknowledgement of the systemic inequality embedded within the digital landscape. While the technology to create such deceptive content is increasingly accessible, the means to effectively counter its harmful effects—through legal channels, public relations, or personal resources—remain concentrated among the elite.
The development of artificial intelligence, driven by the pursuit of profit and technological advancement, continues to produce tools with profound social implications. When these tools are weaponized for manipulation, the state's response, as seen in Italy, prioritizes the protection of its own and other powerful figures through legal reforms that offer little practical defense for the majority. The structural reality is that while deepfakes can target anyone, the capacity to fight back is determined by one's position within the existing economic hierarchy.