Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Seeks Justice and Compensation After Falling Victim to Pornographic Deepfake Videos
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has initiated legal action against two individuals, seeking damages of €100,000 ($108,200) in a civil trial. This step comes in the wake of the malicious uploading of pornographic deepfake videos featuring Meloni’s likeness on an infamous US-based adult content site in 2020.
Prime Minister Meloni, now aged 47, has been summoned to testify at a Sardinian court on July 2, 2023. She is pursuing this civil case alongside criminal defamation charges against the two unidentified men. Law enforcement authorities have managed to track these offenders through their mobile devices, which were instrumental in creating and disseminating several explicit videos and images.
At the time of the offensive material’s publication, Meloni was actively campaigning to lead her Brothers of Italy party as prime minister. Her tenacious efforts paid off when she assumed the position in 2022, securing a landslide victory.
The damaging content remained accessible contact for an extended duration, garnering the attention of several million viewers before being taken down. Regrettably, some of these images persist on the internet.
Meloni’s legal counsel, Maria Giulia Marongiu, confirmed to News Finder that any eventual financial reward obtained from this case would be donated in its entirety to the Interior Ministry’s fund for victims of domestic violence. Marongiu expressed her client’s aspirations to serve as a beacon for other sufferers of revenge porn and deepfake porn, encouraging them to bravely confront those who tarnish their reputations.
As Meloni embarks on this legal journey, she aims not only to seek compensation for the harm inflicted upon her but also to establish a precedent, setting an inspiring example for other victims. Her unwavering resolve highlights the importance of addressing these digital invasions and advocating for justice in a world increasingly dominated by technology.
