The recent dismantling of a Facebook group in Italy has sent shockwaves through the nation, sparking deep anger and concern regarding the non-consensual sharing of intimate images of women. Known as "Mia Moglie" or "My Wife," this group reportedly boasted around 32,000 male members before being shut down by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, for violating policies against Adult Sexual Exploitation.
Italian authorities and social media users alike reacted swiftly after discovering that the group facilitated the distribution of often intimate photographs of unsuspecting women, many taken while they were asleep or in compromising situations. Prior to the removal of the group, shocking screenshots revealed explicit comments from men, some expressing disturbing desires to "rape" the women featured in the photos, reflecting a troubling culture of misogyny and violence.
Author Carolina Capria condemned the group on social media, describing her feelings of "nausea" and fear after witnessing the distressing posts. Capria emphasized that the mixture of violence and sexuality runs deep through societal norms, evidenced by men openly commenting without hiding their identities.
Fiorella Zabatta, a member of the European Greens party, added her voice to the chorus of concern, emphasizing that such behavior is far from harmless; she labeled it as "virtual rape" necessitating immediate action. "These platforms must be fought against, and we all need to take action - civil society and politics included," Zabatta urged.
In light of Italy's 2019 legislation prohibiting revenge porn, which addresses the sharing of intimate images without consent, reports indicate that over a thousand individuals have already filed complaints with the cyber crime division against the now-defunct group. Meta reiterated its commitment to preventing sexual violence and exploitation on its platforms, emphasizing the gravity of the issue surrounding non-consensual imagery.
The incident has drawn comparisons to last year's Pelicot case in France, where Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to two decades in prison for drugging and sharing his wife's abuse. Capria highlighted the parallels between the two cases, noting that both reflect a mindset where control and oppression are insidiously tied to sexuality.
