A formal class action has been launched against two now-infamous sexist platforms, Mia Moglie (My Wife) and Phica.eu, which shared manipulated or intimate images of women without consent, civil and criminal lawyer Annamaria Bernardini de Pace told ANSA on Friday.
She invited “all women who have been violently harmed in their feminine identity” to join the action, with compensation claims directed especially at Facebook for the Mia Moglie case. It is also pending investigation into possible action against Phica.eu as well.
Bernardini de Pace said the legal team, including criminal lawyer David Leggi, is exploring both civil and criminal avenues. They may pursue claims under Italy’s revenge porn law (art. 612-ter of the penal code) – punishable by up to six years’ imprisonment – as well as charges of stalking, privacy violations, and even defamation or incitement to crime over offensive comments on Phica.eu.
These class action efforts come amid a wave of public outrage. The platform Phica.eu, which featured manipulated, sexualised images, including those of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, opposition leader Elly Schlein, and influencers like Chiara Ferragni, allowed users to post content under a “VIP section” marked by vulgar commentary. It had been operating since 2005 and reportedly had between 200,000 and 700,000 members before it was shut down under legal and political pressure.
A similar case involved the Facebook group Mia Moglie. There thousands of men shared wives’ intimate photos without consent. The group was only closed after mounting protests and over 2,800 complaints to the Postal Police.
Women coming forward
Italy has seen more victims come forward. Centre-left Democratic Party figures such as Valeria Campagna, Alessia Morani, Lia Quartapelle, and Simona Malpezzi have filed complaints, sparking petitions with over 150,000 signatures demanding justice.
The class action initiative arrives as digital gender-based abuse takes center stage nationally. Experts warn that, despite legal frameworks like Codice Rosso, societal attitudes must evolve. Already in 2024, the Privacy Authority noted a doubling in revenge porn reports, with nearly 300 cases, highlighting the urgency for awareness and cultural shift
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi revealed a 44 % increase in stalking and revenge porn protection orders in 2024, along with expanded use of GPS electronic bracelets to protect victims, thereby demonstrating that enforcement is stepping up, too.
The class action sealing civil accountability against these sexist platforms may soon escalate into one of Italy’s most prominent legal responses to digital misogyny. Women affected by these platforms now have a structured path to seek both justice and reparations.
