Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni , has criticised the circulation of AI-generated deepfake images of her, including one depicting her in lingerie, after they were widely shared online. Meloni wrote on Facebook on Tuesday: “In recent days, several fake images of me have been circulating, generated using artificial intelligence and passed off as real by some overzealous opponents. “I must admit that whoever created them … even improved my appearance quite a bit,” she joked. “But the fact remains that, in order to attack and spread falsehoods, people are now willing to use absolutely anything.” In her post, Meloni shared an AI-generated image showing her apparently dressed in lingerie, seated on a bed – a fabrication that had gone viral and prompted a wave of condemnation from users who believed it to be genuine. One user wrote: “That a prime minister should present herself in such a state is truly shameful. Unworthy of the institutional role she holds.…