Italian PM Meloni testifies in deepfake porn video trial
Two men from Sardinia allegedly created and posted deepfake pornographic videos of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to adult websites in 2020, which received millions of views. Meloni testified in court in 2024 that the deepfakes constituted violence against women and demanded compensation, which she said she would donate to a fund supporting domestic violence victims.
What happened
Roberto Scurosu, 73, and his son Alessio Scurosu, 40, from Sardinia, are accused of creating deepfake pornographic videos featuring Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and posting them to American porn websites in 2020. The videos were viewed millions of times, according to prosecutors.
Reported impact
Meloni told the court that the deepfake videos constituted 'a form of violence against women' and expressed concern about the impact on herself and others. She demanded 100,000 euros (£84,000) in compensation, which she said she would donate to a fund helping female victims of domestic violence.
Index analysis
Meloni stated that with artificial intelligence becoming more prevalent, allowing faces to be superimposed onto bodies poses a risk to all women, including her daughters. She expressed the need for more severe laws to address deepfake sexual content and called for a strong response to this abuse of power.
Governance controls
Police identified the father and son by analysing their phone and computer records, as well as nicknames used online. Both men are accused of defamation, which in Italy can be a criminal matter carrying custodial sentences.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.