The closure of the Facebook group "Mia Moglie," which shared non-consensual intimate images of women, has ignited outrage across Italy, prompting discussions on violence against women and the need for stricter online regulations.
Outrage in Italy Over Non-Consensual Sharing of Women's Images Online
Outrage in Italy Over Non-Consensual Sharing of Women's Images Online
The discovery of a Facebook group in Italy has sparked widespread anger and calls for action against the sharing of intimate images without consent.
The recent closure of a Facebook group in Italy, known as "Mia Moglie," or "My Wife," has sparked significant public outrage after it was revealed that members were sharing intimate, often non-consensual photos of women online. The group, which boasted approximately 32,000 members, was shut down by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, for violating its policies against adult sexual exploitation.
Screenshots prior to the group's removal depicted women in compromising situations—some captured while asleep or in states of undress—accompanied by disturbing comments from male users. These comments included violent threats and disturbing praises of the secretive nature of the images. Carolina Capria, an author who spotlighted the group, expressed her horror at the content, describing feelings of "nausea" and fear: "This linking of violence to sexuality is so ingrained in our culture that men write without hiding their names and faces," she stated.
Fiorella Zabatta, a member of the European Greens party, condemned the group's activities as equivalent to "virtual rape," stressing the need to combat this toxic manifestation of masculinity through united actions from civil society and political institutions. The phenomenon of revenge porn, defined as the unauthorized sharing of explicit images intended to remain private, was criminalized in Italy in 2019. Reports indicate that over a thousand individuals have already filed complaints regarding the group with authorities specializing in cybercrime.
Meta reiterated its commitment to curbing content that threatens or promotes sexual violence, stating: "We do not allow content that threatens or promotes sexual violence, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation on our platforms." The fallout from this incident mirrors earlier high-profile cases in France, particularly the conviction of Dominique Pelicot, who received a 20-year sentence for drugging and abusing his then-wife, Gisèle Pelicot. Capria pointed out that both incidents illustrate a disturbing cultural belief where control over women’s sexuality is intertwined with oppression, suggesting that the challenges posed by these social media platforms reflect deeper societal issues.
