In Italy, a recent scandal involving non-consensual sharing of women's intimate photos has ignited outrage across the nation. A Facebook group, translated as "My Wife," that had approximately 32,000 members, was removed this week by Meta for violating policies on Adult Sexual Exploitation. The group's existence came to public attention after screenshots revealed disturbing content, including images of women in vulnerable states alongside graphic comments from male users, some expressing violent intentions.
The discovery has provoked vehement criticism, with individuals like author Carolina Capria sharing her horror at the blatant objectification and dehumanization evident in the posts. She noted, "This linking of violence to sexuality is so ingrained in our culture that men write without hiding their names and faces." In a similar tone, Fiorella Zabatta of the European Greens party condemned the group as more than just "harmless fun," calling it "virtual rape" and urging a collective societal response to combat the toxic masculinity permeating these online cultures.
The dissemination of revenge porn — private sexual images shared without consent — was criminalized in Italy back in 2019, yet reports indicate that over a thousand citizens have already contacted law enforcement regarding this particular group. Meta reaffirmed its stance by stating that content promoting sexual violence or exploitation will not be tolerated on its platforms.
The emergence of this controversy has also prompted parallels to the harrowing case of Dominique Pelicot in France, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and assisting in the rape of his wife. Capria articulated that both scenarios illustrate a troubling mindset among men who believe they can exert control over women through sexuality, reinforcing patterns of oppression within society.
