Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has applied to the European Union Intellectual Property Office to trademark her voice, in a new move to protect herself against AI-generated deepfakes. The application, dated October 5, was confirmed by her office.

The filing includes a four-second audio recording of Meloni twice repeating the phrase, in Italian, I am Giorgia Meloni.

Manipulated images of Meloni have circulated online for years and have sometimes been shared as authentic. In 2024, she launched a civil action against a man from Sardinia accused of creating and posting deepfake pornographic images using her face. That case is still pending before an Italian court.

Italian media have reported that even if the trademark is approved, it would not by itself prevent the use of her voice in AI-generated deepfakes. It could, however, create additional legal obstacles for those seeking to replicate it. The application is still under examination.

Meloni has long campaigned against synthetic media abuse, including AI-driven fraud videos that clone politicians to promote fake investments. The bid opens a new legal front in a fight where technology is outpacing the rules.