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Italy’s Prime Minister, Meloni Seeks €100,000 In Damages Over Deepfake Porn Videos

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March 21, 2024

According to the indictment, the videos were posted on a US pornographic website, where they were viewed "millions of times" over several months.

 

 

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is seeking €100,000 (£85,374) in damages after deepfake porn videos of her were uploaded online.

According to the indictment, the videos were posted on a US pornographic website, where they were viewed "millions of times" over several months.

 

According to BBC, Meloni is due to testify before a court in the Sardinian city of Sassari on July 2.

 

A deepfake image is one where the face of one person is digitally added to the body of another.

 

A 40-year-old man, thought to have produced the videos, and his 73-year-old father are under investigation.

 

Police have said they were able to find them by tracking down the mobile device that was used to post the videos.

 

Both men are accused of defamation. Under Italian law, some defamation cases can be criminal and carry a custodial sentence.

 

Meloni's legal team has said that, if her request for damages is successful, she will donate the €100,000 to a fund to support women who have been victims of male violence.

 

Maria Giulia Marongiu, Meloni's lawyer, said the sum was "symbolic" and the demand for compensation was meant to "send a message to women who are victims of this kind of abuse of power not to be afraid to press charges."

 

The deepfake videos of Meloni date back to before she was appointed prime minister in 2022.

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