Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is pursuing compensation of 100,000 euros (roughly Rs 90 lakh) in damages after her deepfake pornographic videos were circulated online, a BBC report said.
The development has come against the backdrop of two individuals allegedly involved in creating these videos by superimposing Meloni’s face onto another person’s body and circulating them on the internet. The accused, a 40-year-old man and his 73-year-old father face defamation charges, as reported by the BBC.
The Prime Minister is due to testify before a court in the Sardinian city of Sassari on 2 July 2024. Under Italian law, certain defamation cases in Italy can lead to criminal charges, and can potentially result in imprisonment.
How authorities tracked the accused
The police managed to trace the perpetrators through the smartphone they used to upload the videos. It is important to note that the deepfake video dates back to 2022 before Meloni was appointed as the Prime Minister of Italy.
As per the report, the deepfake videos were posted on a US pornographic website, where they were viewed “millions of times” for several months.
Meloni’s legal team claimed that if her request for damages is successful, she will donate the 100,000 euros to a fund to support women who have been victims of male violence.
Emerging threat of deepfakes
Ivana Bartoletti, Wipro’s Global Chief Privacy & AI Governance Officer, highlighted the emerging threat of deepfakes with the increasing adoption of generative AI. As over 60 countries gear up for elections this year, she emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant in light of this concerning development.
“Deepfakes have become accessible to everyone, posing a significant risk as these manipulations allow the creation and dissemination of realistic audio and video content featuring individuals saying and doing things they never actually said or did. The consequences extend beyond the digital realm, as online disinformation and coordination can spill over into real-world violence,” she said.
“To ensure public safety, companies must take responsibility and implement measures to combat deepfakes and disinformation. This includes investing in advanced detection technologies to identify and flag deepfake content, as well as collaborating with experts to develop effective debunking methods,” she added.