Italian PM Giorgia Meloni takes legal action against deepfake pornography creators

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has taken a firm stance against the creators of deepfake pornography, describing such content as a “form of violence against women.” In recent developments, Meloni appeared via video link in a Sardinian courtroom to press charges against two men accused of creating and disseminating fabricated explicit videos featuring her likeness. The accused are Allessio Scurosu, aged 40, and his father Roberto, aged 74, both from Sardinia.

The issue dates back to 2020 when the alleged deepfake video of the prime minister was uploaded to adult websites based in the United States. Since its upload, the video is said to have accumulated millions of views. Keen to hold the creators accountable, Meloni is seeking €100,000 (approximately £84,000) in damages, with the intention of diverting the compensation to support a fund dedicated to aiding female victims of domestic violence.

Addressing the court, Meloni emphatically denounced the misuse of artificial intelligence in generating such deepfake content, highlighting the personal impact it had on her. “I insist on demanding the punishment of those responsible because I consider what they did to be intolerable,” she remarked, further underscoring the psychological toll such violations can impose.

Her legal representatives revealed that the suit also serves a dual purpose: to embolden women who have similarly experienced abuse from such manipulative technology and to inspire them to pursue justice without fear.

Meloni’s vocal critique of deepfake technology places her within a broader discourse currently gaining momentum, as there have been increasing calls for heightened regulation of generative AI. Concerns are mounting over the potential for deepfake content to mislead the public and foster misinformation. Earlier this year, a collective of over 400 AI experts, celebrities, politicians, and activists underscored these apprehensions in an open letter entitled “Disrupting the Deepfake Supply Chain.” The letter criticised the proliferation of AI-generated sexually explicit media, fraudulent content, and politically misleading videos.

The ramifications of deepfake technology have not sparing other high-profile figures either. In 2018, actress Natalie Portman was among the first celebrities to be featured in such fake content. Subsequent targets have included singer Taylor Swift, whose deepfake images gained significant traction online, and actresses Emma Watson and Scarlett Johansson, who also fell victim to deepfake advertisements circulated on social media platforms.

The ongoing discourse highlights the urgent need for legislative frameworks to address the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements in AI, particularly concerning the protection of individuals’ likenesses and identities. As deepfake technology evolves, the implications for privacy, security, and authenticity continue to prompt critical dialogue among policymakers and technologists worldwide.

Source: Noah Wire Services