Italian PM Meloni condemns deepfake as violence against women
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has strongly condemned deepfake technology, describing it as "a form of violence against women." Meloni appeared in court, seeking severe punishment for two men accused of creating and distributing fake pornographic content featuring her online, reports the Daily Mail. "I insist on demanding the punishment of those who are responsible because I consider what they did to be intolerable," stated the politician.
Meloni, who appeared in court via video link, reiterated her demand: "I insist on demanding the punishment of those who are responsible because I consider what they did to be intolerable." According to the Italian news service Ansa, the Prime Minister stressed that such actions are a form of violence against women and have profoundly impacted her psyche.
The accused are 40-year-old Alessio Scurosu and his 74-year-old father Roberto, who reside in Sardinia. According to prosecutors, they are responsible for creating a deepfake featuring Meloni, which was posted on specific websites and viewed millions of times.
The material was created in 2020. The Prime Minister had previously filed a defamation lawsuit against the men and is demanding compensation of 100,000 euros (83,000 pounds), which she intends to donate to support women affected by domestic violence, reports the Daily Mail.
Giorgia Meloni a victim of deepfakes. She addressed an appeal to women
Meloni's office announced that the politician not only seeks to punish the responsible men but also to send a strong signal to all women who may encounter a similar form of abuse, encouraging them not to be afraid to report such cases.
During the hearing, the Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of regulations regarding artificial intelligence, which enables the creation of realistic, fake content.
Her lawyers had previously said that the prime minister's reason for pursuing the case was to 'send a message to women who are victims of this kind of abuse of power not to be afraid to press charges' - reports Daily Mail.
Not only Meloni. They too have been victims of deepfakes
Meloni is not the only public figure who has faced a similar problem. In 2018, Natalie Portman became the target of similar materials, and other stars such as Scarlett Johansson and Taylor Swift have also fallen victim to widely spread deepfakes.
Particularly outrageous were the cases of Taylor Swift, whose fake images gained massive views, and also Emma Watson, who was shown in a deepfake advert in March this year.
An open letter regarding artificial intelligence regulations
The issue of deepfake technology is becoming an increasingly serious social problem. Consequently, over 400 experts, celebrities, and activists have signed an open letter appealing for regulations on artificial intelligence and restrictions on creating deepfakes.
The letter titled "Breaking the Deepfake Supply Chain" highlights that AI technology can pose a threat to society, causing misinformation, abuse, and fraud.
