Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni submitted an application to the European Union Intellectual Property Office to register a trademark for her voice, a move intended to help protect her against AI‑generated deepfakes.

The filing includes a four‑second audio clip of Meloni saying the phrase “Io sono Giorgia Meloni” (“I am Giorgia Meloni”) in Italian.

The application was first reported by La Repubblica and later confirmed by an Italian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

Meloni has warned that deepfakes can “deceive, manipulate and harm anyone,” urging the public to verify online content before sharing it.

She added in May that while she can defend herself, many others lack the means to do so against fabricated media.

Italian media note that even if the trademark is approved, it will not automatically prevent AI‑generated imitations of her voice, but it could provide an additional legal tool against unauthorised use.

Meloni’s filing follows similar actions by actor Matthew McConaughey and actress Scarlett Johansson, who have previously used trademark registrations or legal challenges to protect their voices or likenesses from AI misuse.

A recent Japanese court ruling also granted legal protection to a human voice for the first time, highlighting a growing international trend toward safeguarding vocal identity.

The trademark filing comes after Meloni launched a separate legal case in 2024 against a man accused of creating and posting deepfake pornographic images using her likeness, a case that remains pending in an Italian court.