In early May 2026, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took the unusual step of resharing an AI-generated deepfake of herself to warn the public about the dangers of digital manipulation.
The image, which had been circulating on social media, depicted the Prime Minister in lingerie.
By posting it herself, Meloni aimed to expose how easily artificial intelligence can be used for political attacks and character assassination.
In her statement, Meloni noted that while she is capable of defending herself against such fabrications, many others are not. She wrote:
“Deepfakes are a dangerous tool because they can deceive, manipulate, and harm anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot. This is why one rule should always apply: verify before believing, and think before sharing.”
This was not her first encounter with manipulated media. In 2024, Meloni famously pursued a lawsuit for €100,000 in damages against two men who had created and uploaded deepfake pornographic videos featuring her likeness to a US-based website.
Her recent decision to directly address and reshare the fake photo highlights her ongoing stance against the “misogynistic” use of AI to discredit women in high-profile positions.
Meloni even added a touch of wit to her response, jokingly remarking that the creators of the image had actually “improved” her appearance, while simultaneously emphasizing the serious legal and ethical threat posed by technology that can “invent falsehoods” out of thin air.
