THEO Agostano scandal of photos stolen from women – municipalities and notes – published online. The painful discovery of the victims and the indignation of all over Italy. And then the closure: before the Facebook group my wife, where consorts and companions were given to voyeuristic hunger of 32 thousand men. And then also – after more than twenty years of lucky career – of Phica portal, in whose maids of images they also recognized policies, sports, singers. It was the media (bicefalo) case of the summer. With the arrival of September, while new disturbing details still emerge (on the closed site it came for example Explained how to hide and activate micro -challenges in the dressing rooms And in the changing rooms of the gyms), we hope that it will be – at least – a watershed case. From the scandal, therefore, to a “Radical cultural change”. If Raffaella wish him Campolongo and Melissa Lombardi, of Clara collectivewhich for years has supported victims of violence of gender online. We talked with them some tools available to women today. And of what it would need, at the legislative and cultural level, to fight what Melissa and Raffaella calls “Digital rape”.
The expression is of Silvia Semenzinsociologist and technical godmother of the law that introduced the crime of Revenge Porn to Italy. Six years ago, Semenzin had used Phica’s existence as an example of what the law should have fought. The portal at the time had 100 thousand members. On the eve of the closure, in 2025, there were 700 thousand.
Revenge Porn or digital rape: what can a woman who find out the victim do?
«Our suggestion is to contact realities that specifically deal with online violence. How, in addition to us, for example, Permission denied»Explains Raffaella. “You can have psychological support and, if you want, you can make an interview with one of our lawyers, To understand if it makes sense to continue with a cause and have free legal support ».
Often, the two activists do not hide it, a cause may not be appropriate because it risks not leading to anything. Estimates say that in 80% of cases the victims do not receive justice when they report. “It is the proof you read is incomplete and is not working,” continues Melissa.
After the cases my wife and Phica. The law is not enough
The reference is all‘art. 612 ter of the criminal code and provides for the punishment of those who spread or publish private images or videos, with sexually explicit content, without the consent of the person represented. An article with many dark points. First of all LA victim must demonstrate that those who sent those photos did it with the intention of causing damage. “While Online violence»Explains Melissa,” in most cases it does not take place between two people, but tendentially He has the group’s matrix ».
Deep Fake Porn and other forms of gender violence online
Not only that: this skimpy article, although fundamental in our country, does not tell that one of the Tarte forms of violence of gender online that exist. “For example, there is no mention of Deep fake pornor falsified pornography ». And this despite With the arrival of artificial intelligence, cases have increased by 500%. They are very simple tools: on Phica there were tutorials.
Revenge Porn? Better digital rape
AND The expression itself “Revenge Porn” is wrong. Melissa explains: “Revenge It is revenge. If he has something to take up for, it means that she has caused revenge, she has done something bad, she has fault. But the non -consensual sharing of intimate material is not even pornographic because it is not born to be widespread. So also the word “porn“He is misleading.
It is not just a matter of words. Melissa explains it well, who, over 10 years ago, was a victim. «So I didn’t report, I was a girl, but I found support. A fundamental support. If you stay alone, you feel dirty And the last thing you want is to let someone know to be victims. Imagine, therefore, if you choose to report. This is why it is important to contact associations that make each part of a group feel. “
The difficulty of the complaint and the class action of Anna Bernardini de Pace
If, since there is the Internet, “Online violence is real violence», Never like this summer, because of my wife and Phica, we breathed its gravity. And this could have positive implications, in terms of awareness. Thus the collective Clara can only greet the launch of theLawyer Anna Maria Bernardini de Pace, of a class action to give more strength to the voice of the victims of Phica. Together with a pool of 12 colleagues, he collected reports, and hopes to reach a thousand complaints, to do them justice.
The starting point, legally speaking, is the violation of the “constitutional principle that protects the identity and dignity of the person». But among the configurable crimes there is talk of defamation, of instigation to criminal (for posts where others are induced to commit crimes such as sexual violence). And also of extortion and attempted extortion, given the requests for payment for the removal of some contents received by many women.
“It’s early to say it,” admits Raffaella, “but It could be the beginning of a new method, a socio-cultural earthquake capable of leading to a radical cultural change. Of course, every form of gender violence, online and not, is rooted in our culture. And, class action or not, it is from the places where you make culture that you have to start: therefore from a good one Sexual Education in schools “.