Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is taking legal action against the creators of deepfake videos that depict her in adult content scenarios. These videos, which allegedly garnered millions of views on a US-based adult website, have caused significant distress and reputational damage to Meloni. The perpetrators, a 40-year-old individual and his 73-year-old father, are currently under investigation and facing charges of defamation.

The deepfake videos involved swapping Meloni’s face with that of an adult film actor, creating a false and damaging portrayal of the Prime Minister. Despite efforts to conceal their identities, law enforcement authorities were able to track down the suspects through the mobile device used to upload the illicit content.

Meloni’s legal representative, Maria Giulia Marongiu, has emphasized the symbolic nature of the €100,000 compensation demand, stating that the funds, if granted, will be donated to support women who have been victimized by similar forms of exploitation. This legal action sends a strong message about the consequences of such malicious activities and aims to empower victims to seek justice.

In Italy, defamation cases can carry severe penalties, including imprisonment, underscoring the seriousness of the charges against the perpetrators. Meloni’s proactive response to combatting deepfake exploitation highlights the growing concern surrounding synthetic media manipulation and its potential to inflict harm on individuals’ lives and reputations.