Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has filed an application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to register her voice as a trademark. The application, dated October 5, includes a four-second audio recording of Meloni repeating the phrase 'I am Giorgia Meloni' in Italian twice.
The move aims to combat the spread of AI-generated deepfakes. Meloni has frequently faced issues with manipulated media, including a viral fake image depicting her in lingerie. The Prime Minister has publicly condemned such content, noting that while she can defend her rights, ordinary citizens often lack the resources to do so.
The trademark application is currently under review by the EUIPO. Legal experts suggest that while a trademark may not entirely prevent the creation of deepfakes, it provides additional legal grounds to challenge those who attempt to replicate her voice. This follows a separate ongoing civil lawsuit filed by Meloni in 2024 against a man accused of creating and distributing deepfake pornographic images using her likeness.
