Giorgia Meloni seeks trademark for voice to combat deepfakes

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has filed an application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to trademark a four-second audio recording of her voice. The recording features her saying, “Io sono Giorgia Meloni,” twice.

This legal move aims to protect her identity against the rising threat of AI-generated deepfakes. Meloni has previously faced issues with synthetic media, including the circulation of manipulated sexualized images and voice clones used in political contexts. By seeking trademark protection, she intends to establish legal ownership of her vocal likeness across the 27 EU member states.

The phrase used in the application is also the title of her autobiography and a recurring element in her political campaigns. This action highlights a growing trend of public figures using existing intellectual property laws to combat digital impersonation as technology outpaces specific legislation regarding synthetic media.