Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has warned about the dangers of AI-driven misinformation after doctored images of her—including one showing her in lingerie—spread widely on social media. She said several images generated with artificial intelligence were being passed off as genuine by political opponents and shared one example herself to demonstrate the manipulation.
Meloni acknowledged with irony that the creator had “even improved my appearance,” but stressed the episode went beyond a personal attack. The image prompted outrage from some users who believed it was real, with critics calling the circulation of such material “shameful” and inappropriate for a public figure.
She described deepfakes as a dangerous tool that can deceive, manipulate and target anyone, warning that while she is able to defend herself, many people would not be. Meloni urged citizens to verify content before accepting it as true and to think before sharing online.
The incident connects to an ongoing legal matter: two years ago she filed a libel suit against a man from Sardinia accused of creating and distributing pornographic deepfakes using her likeness. That case is still before the courts.
The controversy comes amid broader concern over AI misuse. Italy has moved to regulate artificial intelligence and was the first EU country to adopt a comprehensive AI law, which includes strict penalties for producing harmful deepfakes. The legislation followed a scandal in which a pornographic website published doctored images of several prominent Italian women, including opposition leader Elly Schlein, provoking public outrage.
Meloni’s comments highlight the urgency of stronger safeguards and public awareness as AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated and harder to detect. She posted about the episode on social media, noting that false photos generated by AI were circulating and warning people to be vigilant.
