There was a stir in Italian politics and society when a shameful digital scandal was exposed. In this case, many prominent female politicians, actresses and social media personalities, including the country’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, have been targeted. The accused digitally edited the real pictures of these women and made them obscene and posted them on a porn website2.
Revealed on a website called ‘Phica’
According to the report of British newspaper ‘The Guardian’, this disgusting act was done on an online platform called ‘Phica’, which has more than 700,000 followers. The accused picked up pictures from social media accounts, public rallies and TV interviews and edited them in nude or sexual form and posted them on the website with obscene comments.
Prominent personalities became victims
The victims of this scandal include Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s sister Ariana Meloni, famous actress Paola Cortelsi and well-known influencer Chiara Ferragni. Opposition leader Ellie Schlein and other female MPs were also targeted in this disgusting campaign.
Political response and demand for legal action
PD party leader Valeria Campagna was the first to file a complaint in this matter. She wrote on Facebook, “This is not just my story, but the story of all of us women. It is an attack on our dignity and freedom.” Other PD leaders like Alessandra Moretti, Alessia Morani and Lia Quartapelle also strongly condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the culprits.
Public outrage and petition
Palermo-based social activist Marie Galati has started a petition on Change.org demanding the closure of the Phica website, which has received more than 1.5 lakh signatures so far. The petition cites a 2019 University of Milan study, which found that 20% of Italian women have experienced their photos being shared online without consent.
Solidarity against digital violence
This case highlights the seriousness of harassment against women on digital platforms not only in Italy but globally. Now a widespread debate has started on this issue in the country and the demand for stricter digital security laws is gaining momentum.