Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has demanded compensation of 100,000 euros following the circulation of deepfake videos depicting her online, as reported by the BBC. Scheduled to testify in court on July 2nd in Sassari, Meloni's legal proceedings
target a 40-year-old individual and his 73-year-old father
both under investigation for their alleged involvement in producing the videos. These videos purportedly replaced Meloni's face with that of an adult film actor, resulting in charges of defamation against the accused.
Authorities were able to track down the suspects by tracing the mobile device used to upload the videos, revealing that the content was shared on an adult website based in the US. Despite the deepfake videos circulating prior to Meloni's tenure as Prime Minister in 2022, they reportedly garnered "millions of views" over several months. Maria Giulia Marongiu, Meloni's legal representative, characterized the demanded compensation as symbolic, intending to donate the sum to a fund supporting women affected by male violence.
The incident underscores the pervasive threat of deepfake technology, a form of synthetic media replacing individuals' likenesses within existing images or videos. Notably, India has also experienced similar issues, with deepfake videos emerging featuring prominent Bollywood actors like Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, and Nora Fatehi. In November 2023, a viral deepfake video featuring Rashmika Mandanna replaced her face with that of British-Indian influencer Zara Patel, leading to the arrest of a B-Tech graduate from Andhra Pradesh in January for creating the video.
This case serves as a reminder of the legal and societal implications surrounding deepfake technology, highlighting the need for robust measures to combat its misuse and protect individuals' reputations and privacy.
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