Imagine waking up to dozens of notifications. A colleague texts: “Is that really you in the video? Everyone in the office is talking about it!” You click the link and your blood runs cold. It’s an image with your face, your voice, and your gestures, but you are unclothed. You know it’s not you, but to the world, it looks undeniably real.
This is the reality of deepfakes: AI-generated videos, images, or voice recordings that realistically alter a person’s identity.
The Rise of AI-Generated Abuse
Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, a few social media photos are enough to turn anyone into a protagonist of manipulated, humiliating, or sexually explicit content. This phenomenon has led to a dangerous surge in digital abuse, where AI creates “deepnudes” or fake sexual contexts that the victim never actually experienced.
While previous regulations struggled to keep up, the Italian legal system has finally stepped in.
What is Article 612-quater c.p.?
The Italian legislator recently promulgated Law 132 of 2025, the first organic framework for AI regulation, strictly connected to the EU AI Act (Regulation 1689/24).
The cornerstone of this reform is the introduction of Article 612-quater of the Italian Criminal Code, titled:
“Illicit dissemination of content generated or altered by artificial intelligence systems.”
Key Provisions of the New Deepfake Law:
- Consent is Mandatory: Creating or sharing AI-manipulated content without the subject’s permission is now a crime.
- Protection of Dignity: The law protects your reputation, dignity, and personal sphere from “unjust harm,” even if it’s not financial.
- Severe Penalties: Perpetrators face imprisonment from one to five years.
Why This New Crime is Crucial
The danger of deepfakes lies in their scalability and speed. Anyone with a public social media profile can become a “passive subject” (the victim) of this crime.
The core issue is how quickly these contents spread online. This speed makes it incredibly easy for the public to perceive a digital alteration as reality. Article 612-quater c.p. is vital because it establishes that manipulating someone’s digital identity is not just a moral failure—it is a serious criminal offense.
Article in collaboration with AW LEGAL and VISIUS
AW LEGAL is a law firm specializing in Intellectual Property, Privacy, and Legal Tech. VISIUS offers legal assistance and strategic advice to individuals and businesses, in the areas of white and corporate criminal law, Swiss law, and new technology law.
