Artificial Intelligence

Meloni Shares AI Lingerie Photo to Warn About Deepfakes

Are deepfake laws failing survivors or is public awareness the real battle to win?

Published MAY 6

Meloni Shares AI Lingerie Photo to Warn About Deepfakes

Story

Above: Giorgia Meloni arrives in Yerevan to attend the 8th European Political Community summit on May 4. Image credit: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shared an AI-generated image of herself in lingerie on social media on Tuesday, stating the fabricated photos had been circulating online and were "passed off as real by some overzealous opponents."
Giorgia Meloni on Facebook
Reuters
9News Australia
Meloni warned that deepfakes are "a dangerous tool" that can deceive and manipulate the public, urging people to "verify before believing, and think before sharing" any content encountered online.
Independent
Agenzia ANSA
La Repubblica
In 2024, Meloni launched a libel suit against a man from Sardinia, identified as Alessio Scurosu, accused of superimposing her face onto a pornographic actress and posting the content online. She sought €100,000 in damages, pledging to donate any award to a domestic violence support organization.
The Times (UK)
Reuters
The Telegraph
Last year, Italy became the first EU country to pass comprehensive AI legislation, introducing prison terms for those who use the technology to cause harm, including the creation of deepfakes, and restricting access to AI for children under 14.
guardian
The Chosun Daily
La Repubblica
The Italian law followed a scandal involving a pornographic website that published doctored images of prominent Italian women, including Meloni and opposition leader Elly Schlein. Italian police ordered the site to shut down, while prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged offenses.
guardian
The Local
EuroNews

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Deepfakes are a weapon that can destroy anyone — even a sitting prime minister isn't immune. Meloni made the stakes crystal clear, yet most people targeted by deepfakes have no platform to fight back. Fortunately, Italy recognized early that the technology is outpacing public awareness, prompting Meloni to criminalize harmful deepfakes under its AI laws.

Giorgia Meloni on X

Mario Nawfal on X

Blackwood Brief on X

Narrative B

Laws against AI deepfakes, including Italy's, are riddled with loopholes, enforcement is underfunded and platforms keep dodging accountability while survivors bear the burden of chasing down their own abused images. Until legal frameworks catch up and platforms face real consequences, perpetrators will continue to walk free.

UN Women