Meloni Seeks EU Trademark for 4-Second Voice Sample as Italy Braces for 2027 Election Deepfakes
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Oct 5
Meloni Seeks EU Trademark for 4-Second Voice Sample as Italy Braces for 2027 Election Deepfakes
3 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Oct 5
Summary
A 4-second recording of Giorgia Meloni saying “Io sono Giorgia Meloni” was filed Monday with the EU intellectual property office, putting her bid to trademark her voice under review.
The move aims to blunt AI deepfakes before Italy’s general election next year, after fake videos and cloned-audio political ads already circulated online using the prime minister’s likeness and voice.
Lawyer Guido Scorza said trademark protection could speed takedowns because platforms respond more readily to trademark complaints than to claims tied to personal data or voice misuse.
Meloni appears to be the first major politician to try this route, though entertainers including Taylor Swift have sought similar protection for their voices.
Critics such as Italian Digital Media Observatory director Gianni Riotta said the filing may raise awareness but will struggle to stop a fast-replicating wave of AI disinformation in a bitter campaign.