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What is the story about?
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has spoken out against the spread of AI-generated deepfake images circulated widely online. She warned that the growing misuse of artificial intelligence poses a serious threat beyond politics, as fake content can easily deceive and manipulate the public.
In the post on X, Meloni said several fabricated images of her had been created using artificial intelligence and falsely presented as real by opponents. It also included a manipulated image of Meloni sitting on a bed in lingerie, overlaid with the text “FOTO FALSA GENERATA CON L’IA,” which translates to “Fake photo generated by AI.”
While responding with sarcasm, she remarked that the creators had ‘improved’ her appearance, but stressed that the larger issue was the dangerous misuse of technology to spread falsehoods.
“These days, severalfake photos of me are circulating, generated with artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some zealous opponent. I must admit that whoever created them, at least in the attached case, has also improved me quite a bit. But the fact remains that, just to attack and invent falsehoods, nowadays anything at all is used,” she said.
Meloni said deepfakes are a ‘dangerous tool’ because they can target and harm anyone. “I can defend myself. Many others cannot,” she wrote, urging people to verify content before believing or sharing it online.
"The point, however, goes beyond me. Deepfakes are a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate, and strike anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot. For this reason, one rule should always apply: verify before believing, and believe before sharing. Because today it happens to me, tomorrow it can happen to anyone," she concluded.
In September last year, Italy became the first country in the European Union to pass a comprehensive law regulating artificial intelligence. The legislation introduces prison terms for harmful uses of AI, including deepfakes, and also places restrictions on children’s access to the technology.
The move came after outrage erupted over a pornographic website that published doctored images of several prominent Italian women, including Meloni and opposition leader Elly Schlein.
Girano
in questi giorni diverse mie foto false, generate con l’intelligenza artificiale e spacciate per vere da qualche solerte oppositore.
Devo riconoscere che chi le ha realizzate, almeno nel caso in allegato, mi ha anche migliorata parecchio. Ma resta il fatto che, pur di… pic.twitter.com/or44qru2qj
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 5, 2026
In the post on X, Meloni said several fabricated images of her had been created using artificial intelligence and falsely presented as real by opponents. It also included a manipulated image of Meloni sitting on a bed in lingerie, overlaid with the text “FOTO FALSA GENERATA CON L’IA,” which translates to “Fake photo generated by AI.”
While responding with sarcasm, she remarked that the creators had ‘improved’ her appearance, but stressed that the larger issue was the dangerous misuse of technology to spread falsehoods.
“These days, severalfake photos of me are circulating, generated with artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some zealous opponent. I must admit that whoever created them, at least in the attached case, has also improved me quite a bit. But the fact remains that, just to attack and invent falsehoods, nowadays anything at all is used,” she said.
Meloni said deepfakes are a ‘dangerous tool’ because they can target and harm anyone. “I can defend myself. Many others cannot,” she wrote, urging people to verify content before believing or sharing it online.
"The point, however, goes beyond me. Deepfakes are a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate, and strike anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot. For this reason, one rule should always apply: verify before believing, and believe before sharing. Because today it happens to me, tomorrow it can happen to anyone," she concluded.
In September last year, Italy became the first country in the European Union to pass a comprehensive law regulating artificial intelligence. The legislation introduces prison terms for harmful uses of AI, including deepfakes, and also places restrictions on children’s access to the technology.
The move came after outrage erupted over a pornographic website that published doctored images of several prominent Italian women, including Meloni and opposition leader Elly Schlein.
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