Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at an event in Bari, Italy, on Sept. 4, 2026. Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has applied to trademark her voice with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), seeking legal protection against its unauthorized use in deepfakes made with artificial intelligence (AI).
The application, filed on Oct. 5, includes a four-second audio recording where Meloni says in Italian, “Io sono Giorgia Meloni,” which translates to “I am Giorgia Meloni.”
The application is currently listed as under examination. It covers services including downloadable multimedia content, cultural activities, and the organization of political events.
The EUIPO must first complete its examination of Meloni’s application before any trademark protection takes effect.
The phrase “Io sono Giorgia” became closely associated with Meloni after a speech at a political rally in 2019. She was widely recognized for reciting during the event, “I am Giorgia, I am a woman, I am a mother, I am Italian, I am Christian.” It was later used as the title of her 2021 autobiography and became the basis for a disco song.
The trademark application comes as advances in generative AI have made it possible to create increasingly realistic reproductions of people’s voices.
The technology has been used to produce fabricated audio and video involving public figures, sometimes making it difficult for viewers and listeners to distinguish manipulated material from genuine recordings.
Meloni has previously been the target of digitally manipulated material. In 2024, she brought a civil case against a man accused of creating and distributing inappropriate deepfake images using her likeness. The case currently remains pending.
“I can defend myself, but many others cannot,” Meloni said in response to the images, adding that AI deepfakes can “deceive, manipulate, and harm anyone.”
Italian officials have reported other cases involving the use of AI to imitate public figures. In 2025, an AI-generated imitation of Defense Minister Guido Crosetto’s voice was used in a scam targeting wealthy businesspeople.
A number of U.S.-based performers and public figures have faced similar instances involving the unauthorized use of AI-generated versions of their voices or likenesses.
In 2023, an AI-generated song featuring imitations of the voices of Drake and The Weeknd went viral online before being removed from major streaming services.
That same year, Tom Hanks also warned followers about an AI-generated version of himself appearing in an advertisement without his involvement.
Actress Scarlett Johansson challenged OpenAI in 2024 over a ChatGPT voice that she said sounded strikingly similar to her own, while the company said the voice belonged to another actress and was not intended to imitate Johansson.
Last year, Sandra Bullock alerted fans of online scammers impersonating her and members of her family through fraudulent social media accounts.
Similarly, Johnny Depp
issueda warning to fans regarding scammers who are using AI technology in conjunction with multiple deceptive social media and email accounts to impersonate him and members of his team.
More recently, pop star Taylor Swift has faced AI-generated fake images and videos. In April, she filed trademark applications that include protections related to her voice and likeness.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
English (US) · 
Turkish (TR) · 