Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed concern over the proliferation of fake images depicting her online. She recently shared a deepfake image on social media, asserting that these altered visuals are being misrepresented as genuine by her political adversaries.

In her post, Meloni highlighted a particular deepfake that portrayed her in lingerie on a bed, emphasizing that numerous AI-generated images of her have been created and circulated as real by those opposing her. She included a comment from an individual named Roberto, who shared the image and suggested that she should feel “ashamed” of herself.

The Prime Minister has called on the public to be cautious and verify the authenticity of any online content before sharing it. She stated, “Deepfakes are a dangerous tool because they can deceive, manipulate and target anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot,” via her Facebook account.

Meloni urged her followers to adopt a principle of skepticism: “One rule should always apply: verify before believing, and think before sharing.” It remains uncertain if she intends to notify law enforcement regarding this incident, as some commenters on her post have suggested.

In a lighter tone, she remarked that the manipulated photo “actually made me look a lot better,” but pointed out the troubling reality that individuals will resort to any means to spread falsehoods and attacks. This is not the first instance in which Meloni’s likeness has caused a stir; earlier this year, a minor controversy arose when a fresco featuring a cherub resembling her was discovered in a Roman church, which she humorously addressed at the time.

Two years ago, Meloni initiated a libel lawsuit against a Sardinian man accused of creating deepfake pornographic images using her likeness and distributing them online.