Meloni Condemns Online Platforms for Hosting Revenge Porn and Sexist Content

Rome: Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed her disgust at the existence of sexist websites like Phica.eu and Mia Moglie, which have recently come under fire for hosting manipulated and non-consensual intimate photos of women.

According to Ansa News Agency, these platforms have faced widespread criticism and legal scrutiny, leading to their shutdown or removal from major social media outlets. Meloni, who has personally been a victim of such sites, condemned the practice of revenge porn as a crime and extended her support to all affected women.

Meloni emphasized the need for accountability and urged authorities to swiftly identify and punish those responsible for these violations. She highlighted the ongoing issue of online anonymity being used to undermine women’s dignity through sexist insults and revenge porn. Following the removal of Mia Moglie from Facebook by Meta and the closure of Phica.eu, complaints have surged from women, including politicians and influencers, who discovered their photos had been illi
citly shared on these platforms.

In response to the situation, the Postal Police initiated investigations to track down the operators of these websites and understand how the photos were obtained and distributed. This probe also aims to identify the perpetrators of the derogatory comments that accompanied the photos. The controversy has prompted center-left Democratic Party politicians and other public figures to denounce the platforms and call for action.

Both Meloni and opposition leader Elly Schlein have been reported as victims and are expected to issue a united statement condemning sexism, continuing their collaborative efforts against violence towards women. Family and Equal Opportunities Minister Eugenia Roccella announced that the government plans to implement stringent measures against such websites. Roccella stated that the government would enhance monitoring and legal actions to combat these online abuses.

The urgency to address these issues has been underscored by Meta’s recent removal of the ‘
My Wife’ Facebook group, which had been a hub for sharing non-consensual intimate photos. Meta confirmed that the group violated its policies on sexual exploitation, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to preventing sexual violence and exploitation.