Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is pursuing damages of 100,000 euros ($109,345) following the creation and dissemination of deepfake pornographic videos featuring her online. Authorities allege that two individuals produced these videos by superimposing Ms. Meloni’s face onto another person’s body, subsequently sharing them on the internet. The accused, a 40-year-old man and his 73-year-old father face defamation charges, as reported by the BBC.
Police were able to trace the perpetrators by tracking the smartphone used to upload the videos. Notably, the deepfake footage in question dates back to 2022, predating Ms. Meloni’s tenure as Prime Minister of Italy. Certain defamation cases in Italy carry criminal penalties, potentially resulting in imprisonment. Ms. Meloni is scheduled to testify in court on July 2nd. The indictment states that the videos were uploaded to a pornographic website in the United States and viewed “millions of times” over several months.
The legal team representing the Italian PM clarified that the damages sought are “symbolic.” They further stated that Ms. Meloni intends to donate the entire amount to “support women who have been victims of male violence.” Maria Giulia Marongiu, Ms. Meloni’s lawyer, emphasized that seeking compensation will “encourage women subjected to such abuses of power not to hesitate in pressing charges.”
Deepfake technology utilizes artificial intelligence to manipulate or generate visual and audio content, often with malicious intent, to appear authentic. MIT notes that the term “deepfake” originated in late 2017 when a Reddit user established a platform for sharing pornographic videos created with open-source face-swapping technology. This technology employs deep learning, a form of artificial intelligence, to produce convincing images or videos of fabricated events.
However, deepfakes have become increasingly realistic and widespread due to advancements in artificial intelligence. They pose a significant threat to public trust and truthfulness, serving as a potent tool for disseminating misinformation, distorting public opinion, and tarnishing reputations by generating convincing audio and video recordings of individuals engaging in actions they never performed. Numerous world leaders have expressed apprehension regarding the proliferation of deepfakes.
