The recent closure of an Italian Facebook group, known as Mia Moglie ("My Wife"), has ignited significant outrage and concern regarding the non-consensual sharing of women's intimate photos. Before its removal by Meta, the group had amassed approximately 32,000 members who shared images of women—often taken without their consent—accompanied by graphic and demeaning comments.
The discovery of the group has alarmed Italians, prompting fears of a rise in similar platforms in its absence. Meta stated that it took action against the group for breaching its Adult Sexual Exploitation policies. The shocking screenshots shared prior to the group's closure depicted women in compromising situations, with many posts featuring explicit remarks from users, some of which were openly threatening.
Carolina Capria, a prominent author, expressed her revulsion after witnessing the content, describing it as reflective of a societal norm wherein men feel emboldened to share and discuss such violent ideas. “The taking of violence and linking it to sexuality is so deeply ingrained that men felt comfortable posting without anonymity,” she stated.
Fiorella Zabatta from the European Greens emphasized the seriousness of the issue on social media, stating that what transpired wasn't just a joke but a form of "virtual rape." She called for collective action from civil society and political entities to combat this disturbing trend and the toxic masculinity that fuels it.
In Italy, revenge porn—defined as the unauthorized sharing of explicit images intended to remain private—became illegal in 2019. Following the revelations about Mia Moglie, over a thousand reports regarding the group have reportedly been filed with Italian cybercrime police. Meta reiterated its commitment to eradicating content that threatens sexual violence, sexual assault, or exploitation from its platforms.
The incident has drawn comparisons to the Pelicot case in France, where a man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and abusing his wife while inciting others to commit sexual violence against her. Capria remarked that both situations underscore a troubling dynamic where control and sexuality are linked to oppression and violence against women, illustrating that the issues extend far beyond virtual interactions.
