Giorgia Meloni says she can defend herself but "many other people can't". -EPA
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned AI-generated images of her circulating online, calling on people to "verify before believing, and believing before sharing".
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"In recent days a number of photos of me, generated with artificial intelligence and being passed off as real by some zealous opponent, have been circulating," Meloni said in social media posts, also including one of the deepfakes, which depicts her wearing lingerie.
The Italian premier said, while the image she reposted "has actually made me look a lot better ... the fact remains that, when it comes to attacking others and fabricating lies, people will use just about anything these days".
Meloni went on to say that deepfakes were "a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate and affect anyone. I can defend myself. Many other people can't".
"That's why one rule should always apply: verify before believing, and believe before sharing. Because today it happens to me; tomorrow it could happen to anyone."
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