“I have to admit that whoever created them… has even improved my appearance a little,” she added with humor. “But the fact remains that, to attack and spread lies, people are now willing to use absolutely anything.”
In her post, Meloni shared an AI-generated image that appeared to show her in her underwear, sitting on a bed. When the photo initially went viral, many believed it was Meloni. One user wrote: “For a prime minister to appear in such a state is truly shameful. Unworthy of the institutional role she holds. There is no sense of shame.” In her statement, Meloni condemned what she described as a form of cyberbullying, warning that AI-generated images are an increasingly dangerous tool that can deceive and harm individuals.
“The issue goes beyond me,” she added. “Deepfakes are a dangerous tool because they can deceive, manipulate, and target anyone. I can protect myself. Many others cannot. For this reason, one rule should always apply: verify before you believe and think before you share. Because today it happens to me, tomorrow it could happen to anyone.”
The fight against the dangers posed by artificial intelligence and deepfakes has become a key pillar of the agenda of Meloni’s right-wing government. Last September, Italy became the first country in the EU to pass a comprehensive law regulating the use of artificial intelligence, including prison sentences for those who use the technology to cause harm, as well as restrictions on children’s access. Meloni’s government said the legislation, aligned with the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, marks a decisive step in the way artificial intelligence is developed and used in the country.
The law followed a scandal involving a pornographic website that published doctored images of prominent Italian women, including Meloni and opposition leader Elly Schlein, causing strong reactions in Italy.
The images, with vulgar and sexist descriptions, were shared on a platform with more than 700,000 subscribers. Many of them showed politicians from different parties, manipulated to highlight body parts or suggest sexualized poses. Italian police ordered the closure of the page, while prosecutors in Rome launched an investigation for alleged acts such as illegal distribution of images with sexual content, defamation and extortion.