Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Meloni Seeks EU Voice Trademark Amid AI Deepfake Risks
Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, has asked for legal protection for a recording of her voice.
The recording is four seconds long and includes her saying “I am Giorgia Meloni” twice.
The European Union office that reviews trademarks is still examining her application.
A trademark would not automatically stop people from making fake AI recordings of her.
But it could give her another legal way to challenge some unauthorized copies.
Meloni has warned that fake material can spread false claims and harm people.
Italy expects its next general election in 2027, when voters may encounter AI-generated political content.
A separate court case over alleged fake sexual images of Meloni is still pending.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni applied to trademark her voice with the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
The application, dated October 5, includes a four-second clip of her saying “I am Giorgia Meloni” twice in Italian.
The EUIPO application is still under examination, and the year of the October 5 filing is not specified.
Italian media report that approval would not itself prevent AI voice deepfakes but could create additional legal obstacles to copying her voice.
Meloni’s 2024 civil action over alleged pornographic deepfake images using her face remains pending before an Italian court.
- Who
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- What
- She applied to trademark a recording of her voice.
- When
- The application is dated October 5; the year is not specified. A related civil action was launched in 2024.
- Where
- The application was filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office; the related civil case is pending before an Italian court.
- Why
- The application seeks to provide a legal tool against unauthorized voice replication amid concerns about AI-generated deepfakes.
Potential legal protection
Limits of trademark protection
What registration could do
Potential legal protection
A registered sound trademark could give Meloni a stronger intellectual-property argument against unauthorized uses covered by the registration.
Limits of trademark protection
Italian media report that a trademark would not by itself prevent AI-generated deepfakes; protection would also apply only to specific goods and services named in the application.
- Applicant
- Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister
- Trademark office
- European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)
- Application date
- October 5; the year is not specified
- Recording
- A four-second clip of Meloni saying “I am Giorgia Meloni” twice in Italian
- Application status
- Under examination
- Potential effect
- Would not itself prevent AI voice deepfakes, but could create additional legal obstacles to unauthorized replication
- Related lawsuit
- A 2024 civil action over alleged pornographic deepfake images using Meloni’s face remains pending in an Italian court
- Election context
- Italy expects its next general election in 2027
