Giorgia Meloni Files to Trademark Her Voice Against AI Deepfakes
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has applied to trademark her voice at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The application, filed on October 5th, is still under examination as of October 9th.
The mark is a four-second recording of Meloni saying "Io sono Giorgia Meloni" ("I am Giorgia Meloni") twice. Her office confirmed the filing, as reported by Reuters, stating it's a move to protect herself against AI-generated deepfakes.
The application covers a range of goods and services, including:
- Downloadable multimedia files and recordings
- Publishing books, newspapers, and magazines
- Organizing conferences, cultural events, and live entertainment
- Organizing political rallies
The phrase "Io sono Giorgia" is from a 2019 rally speech that was later turned into a disco track. Meloni used it as the title of her autobiography in 2021.
In 2024, she brought a civil case against a man accused of making and posting deepfake pornographic images of her. The case is still pending.
In May 2026, manipulated images of Meloni, including one showing her in her underwear, circulated online. She warned on Facebook that deepfakes can deceive and manipulate, stating: "I can defend myself. Many others cannot."
Meloni is the first major politician known to trademark her voice, according to The Financial Times. Italy holds a general election next year, and deepfake videos falsely showing Meloni promoting investment schemes have been shared on Italian social media.
While the EUIPO approval would not stop anyone using her voice in deepfakes, it could create legal obstacles for those trying to copy it.