Meter dossier exposes AI deepfake abuse of minors in Italy
Associazione Meter ETS released Italy's first dossier on AI-enabled child sexual abuse, documenting that approximately 3,000 minors were digitally stripped using deepfake software between December 2024 and May 2025, with predatory chatbots used to groom children into creating or sharing intimate material. The report found 507 groups on Signal engaged in child exploitation and noted that existing legal frameworks do not adequately address these AI-facilitated harms.
What happened
Associazione Meter ETS, founded and presided by Don Fortunato Di Noto, presented Italy's first dossier on AI-facilitated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on 24 June 2025. The dossier documented how pedophiles use deepfake-generating software to create synthetic nude images of children, known as 'deepnude,' by overlaying AI-modeled bodies onto photographs taken during ordinary activities like sports or parties.
Approximately 2,967 minors were 'stripped' virtually using deepfake technology between December 2024 and May 2025, primarily via Signal messenger. Predatory chatbots are used to groom children by mimicking their language, creating empathetic relationships, and manipulating them into creating or sharing intimate material. The chatbots continuously change links and channels while rapidly encrypting and distributing material, making them difficult for law enforcement to identify and block.
Reported impact
Don Di Noto stated that approximately 3,000 children have been affected by deepnude technology, causing them significant worry as they feel harmed in their dignity. The dossier indicated that 92% of interviewed students aged 14–18 years have used a chatbot, and 989 of those interviewed face risks related to online harassment.
The dossier noted that the deepfake images are promoted with the narrative that they cause no harm because they are virtual and involve no physical victims, risking the 'normalization' of child sexual abuse. These violations include privacy breaches, image manipulation, and damage to minors' reputations.
Index analysis
The dossier documented 507 groups on Signal flagged for child exploitation. The research revealed that AI systems are being exploited to achieve maximum harm with minimal effort, as perpetrators can use chatbots instead of manually grooming children, and deepfake tools bypass the need for actual victims.
Cardinal Zuppi, in comments on the dossier, stated that the Church would continue addressing the responsibility and promote a public understanding that does not separate innovation from justice, power from care, and technique from conscience.
Governance controls
The dossier found that existing law does not keep pace with the harms documented. Don Di Noto called for urgent action, stating 'We are at year zero, there is no time to lose,' and noted that while young people perceive danger from these technologies, prevention efforts remain inconsistent.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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