Italy PM Giorgia Meloni Seeks Over $100,000 In Damages Over Deepfake Videos

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is suing for over $100,000 in damages after being targeted by deepfake pornography videos.

The videos were allegedly created by two men, who superimposed Meloni's image onto others' bodies and uploaded them to a U.S. porn site, attracting millions of views.

Police traced the culprits using a smartphone involved in uploading the content. The case, which may carry criminal implications for defamation in Italy, has reached court, with the PM set to testify on July 2.

Meloni's legal team views the damages sought as a symbolic gesture, emphasizing her intention to donate any awarded funds to aid women affected by gender-based violence. The prime minister's lawyer, Maria Giulia Marongiu, hopes to inspire women to stand up against such abuses of power.

Deepfakes, powered by AI, are falsified visuals or audio designed to deceive. This technological deception emerged in 2017, growing more sophisticated and prevalent, raising concerns among global leaders about its potential to undermine public trust, manipulate opinions, and defame individuals.