1. From ‘Phica’ with Fury
When a porn site—crudely named “Phica” (a vulgar play on Italian slang for female genitals)—started running manipulated, sexualized images of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, her sister, opposition leader Elly Schlein, and other insistent public figures, the entire nation recoiled. The images were stolen from social media or public appearances, edited to zoom in on private parts, and captioned with grotesque, misogynistic jabs. Italy’s Prime Minister didn’t mince words—she was disgusted, furious, and ready to clap back.
2. The #MeToo Moment Italy Couldn’t Ignore
Proclaims of solidarity rained from all sides. Meloni voiced unity with every woman violated by this abuse—insisting the perpetrators be “identified and punished with the utmost firmness.” The platform with over 700,000 members shut down under a wave of public outrage and legal pressure. Meanwhile, government officials leaned forward, promising legal and cultural reforms. Equality Minister Eugenia Roccella said the state will push for stronger protections online.
3. Victims Step Forward—and They’re Regrouping
Democratic Party (PD) politicians like Valeria Campagna, Alessia Morani, and Alessandra Moretti filed official complaints. These women described how men had posted images of their everyday moments—not even glossy portraits—laced with vile commentary. Protest gave birth to action: a Change.org petition demanding the site’s permanent ban gathered over 150,000 signatures. It’s so much more than glamour theft—it’s about reclaiming personal power.
4. It’s Not the First Time—Nor Will It Be the Last
We’ve seen this before—remember the Meta group “Mia Moglie” (“My Wife”)? Thousands of intimate photos of women were shared by their husbands, without consent, captioned with violent and demeaning text. Meta finally pulled it down after activist Carolina Capria went viral. The Phica scandal now feels like a sequel—harder, uglier, and harder to ignore.
5. Is Italy Finally Waking Up?
Meloni’s scathing words should hit hard—yet, in 2025, this still happened. Revenge porn, non-consensual image sharing—crimes exist for these. But platforms have been slow to act, and courts slower still. While the Senate recently expanded femicide laws and revenge porn penalties, critics argue reform must go deeper—into education, culture, and enforcement. Digital misogyny, they say, requires a digital defense.
All Sources
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Giorgia Meloni ‘disgusted’ at posting of photos of her and other women on porn site – The Guardian
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Outrage in Italy over porn site with doctored images of prominent women – The Guardian
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Italy’s Meloni ‘disgusted’ by websites targeting women amid outcry over online abuse – Reuters
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Italy erupts in anger after fake images of Meloni and other female figures — IndiaTimes
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Italy’s #MeToo: Porn site posts doctored images of high-profile women — Times of India
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Website forced to close as Italian women fight back — AP News
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Italy’s Meloni condemns lewd site scandal after women’s photos shared — Malay Mail
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‘Italy outraged over men sharing intimate photos of their wives online’ — Financial Times