Giorgia Meloni trademarks her voice at the EU to fight back against AI deepfakes spreading online

From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026 · last updated 7 October 2026.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has applied to the European Union Intellectual Property Office to trademark her own voice, submitting a four-second recording in which she repeats 'Io sono Giorgia Meloni' — the phrase she has used since a 2019 rally. Her office confirmed the filing on October 5; it remains under examination and has not yet been approved. If successful, it would give her an extra legal weapon against unauthorised commercial uses of her voice, though AI systems would not be automatically prevented from producing imitations.

Her 2021 autobiography took its title from the phrase 'I am Giorgia Meloni', cementing it as one of her most recognisable personal signatures.

According to Italian reports on the EUIPO filing, the application covers areas including downloadable digital media, cultural pursuits and the running of political events.

Meloni has previously warned that deepfakes can 'deceive, manipulate and harm anyone' as AI voice-cloning makes it ever easier to put words in public figures' mouths.