There has been an uproar across Italy following the removal of a Facebook group titled "Mia Moglie" (My Wife), which had around 32,000 members who shared intimate images of women without their consent. The group was dismantled by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, due to violations of their policies against adult sexual exploitation. Screenshots taken prior to the group's removal revealed disturbing posts containing images of women—some asleep or captured in vulnerable moments—alongside sexually explicit comments from male members, including threats of violence.
The discovery of the group was propelled into public discourse by author Carolina Capria, who expressed her deep disgust and fear regarding the blatant misogyny visible online. She noted, "This linking of violence to sexuality is so ingrained in our culture that in a public group, men write without hiding their names and faces." Politicians have also condemned the matter, with Fiorella Zabatta from the European Greens labeling the situation as "virtual rape" and emphasizing the urgent need to confront toxic masculinity in society.
Italy faces an ongoing battle against "revenge porn," which was criminalized in 2019, yet the existence of such groups illustrates the prevalent issue of digital sexual violence. Reports indicate that over a thousand individuals have reported the group to law enforcement officials specializing in cybercrime. The disturbing parallels between this case and the infamous Dominique Pelicot case in France—where a man was imprisoned for drugging and abusing his wife—serve to underscore systemic issues where control and oppression are often intertwined with male sexuality.
Meta has stated its commitment to preventing content that promotes sexual violence on its platforms, yet the incident serves as a grim reminder of the challenges that remain in safeguarding women's rights and dignity in the digital realm. Activists call for stronger actions from both civil society and political entities to combat the culture of sexual exploitation and ensure the safety of individuals online.
The discovery of the group was propelled into public discourse by author Carolina Capria, who expressed her deep disgust and fear regarding the blatant misogyny visible online. She noted, "This linking of violence to sexuality is so ingrained in our culture that in a public group, men write without hiding their names and faces." Politicians have also condemned the matter, with Fiorella Zabatta from the European Greens labeling the situation as "virtual rape" and emphasizing the urgent need to confront toxic masculinity in society.
Italy faces an ongoing battle against "revenge porn," which was criminalized in 2019, yet the existence of such groups illustrates the prevalent issue of digital sexual violence. Reports indicate that over a thousand individuals have reported the group to law enforcement officials specializing in cybercrime. The disturbing parallels between this case and the infamous Dominique Pelicot case in France—where a man was imprisoned for drugging and abusing his wife—serve to underscore systemic issues where control and oppression are often intertwined with male sexuality.
Meta has stated its commitment to preventing content that promotes sexual violence on its platforms, yet the incident serves as a grim reminder of the challenges that remain in safeguarding women's rights and dignity in the digital realm. Activists call for stronger actions from both civil society and political entities to combat the culture of sexual exploitation and ensure the safety of individuals online.
