Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has filed an application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to register her voice as a trademark.
This is shown by the office’s data, Reuters reports.
The application is dated 5 October. It contains a four-second audio recording in which Meloni repeats the phrase “I am Giorgia” twice in Italian. Her office confirmed that the application had been filed.
The phrase “Io sono Giorgia” was the title of Meloni’s 2021 autobiography. It also comes from the politician’s well-known speech at a rally in 2019, after which the phrase became the basis for a music track.
In recent years, manipulated images of Meloni have repeatedly circulated online, presented as genuine. In particular, a fake image appeared online showing her supposedly lying on a bed in her underwear.
Meloni has condemned the spread of such content and urged users to verify information before sharing it. She said such technologies could be used to spread falsehoods and harass people.
Meloni’s application is currently under review by the EUIPO.
Italian media note that even if approved, the registration in itself would not prohibit the use of Meloni’s voice in deepfakes created using artificial intelligence. At the same time, it could create additional legal obstacles for those who attempt to reproduce it.
- In 2024, Meloni also filed a civil lawsuit against a resident of Sardinia who is accused of creating and publishing pornographic deepfakes featuring her face online. The case is still being considered by an Italian court.