Francesca Barra, a well-known Italian journalist and writer, has recently become the target of a pornographic website displaying AI-generated images of her in compromising situations. This heinous discovery prompted a poignant question from her young daughter: “How do you feel?” Rather than merely seeking an emotional response, this question hinted at a deeper concern: “If it were me, how would I cope?”
The website in question, Social Media Girls, boasts over 7 million subscribers worldwide and includes a segment dedicated to Italian celebrities involved in nudity. This alarming trend is not isolated, as it follows other instances of misogynistic online platforms in Italy. Noteworthy examples include Mia Moglie (My Wife), a now-defunct Facebook group where men shared intimate images of their wives without consent, and Phica, a website that featured altered images and vulgar commentary about prominent women, including Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. Following legal actions, Phica has been shut down, but investigations into Social Media Girls continue amidst calls for its closure.
The emergence of these platforms has sparked a formidable backlash similar to the #MeToo movement. Numerous journalists, actors, influencers, and politicians have labeled these acts as “virtual rape,” emphasizing the need for accountability and reform.
Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters
Italy’s longstanding battle with misogyny has intensified with the rise of AI-generated sexually explicit content, presenting a complex challenge. Barra, who also serves as a host on the Rete 4 channel, has taken a stand by being the first well-known woman to file a legal complaint against Social Media Girls. News of her image being exploited came from a male visitor to the site.
In reflecting on her experience, Barra stated, “When I first saw it, I felt violated and mortified. Then I became angry and told myself: ‘I will not allow anyone to violate me twice’.” She emphasized her responsibility to advocate for women who may lack the platform or courage to speak out.
Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
The law firm Annamaria Bernardini de Pace is currently working to organize a class action lawsuit against these misogynistic forums. However, many young women, including a 21-year-old who was devastated to find her photos on Phica, hesitate to join the lawsuit for fear of reputational damage and career impact. The challenge is compounded for women in financially dependent relationships with those responsible for these invasions of privacy.
A persistent frustration is voiced by ordinary women, many of whom have filed reports about these forums only to find their concerns dismissed. Agata Vee, a Change.org petition promoter pushing for Phica’s closure, highlighted the lack of responsiveness from site moderators, who allowed harmful material to proliferate over many years.
In a pioneering move, Italy has become the first EU country to adopt comprehensive legislation regulating artificial intelligence. This law introduces potential prison sentences for those who unlawfully distribute AI-generated or manipulated images that cause harm.
Despite these advances, identifying the individuals behind these abusive platforms remains a major hurdle, especially since many originate from abroad. “When one site is shut down, another emerges,” noted lawyer Daniela Caputo, shedding light on the ongoing global challenge posed by such exploitative practices.
Barra has called for comprehensive cooperation from politicians across the spectrum to implement a unified strategy against this phenomenon, warning that the situation is likely to get worse. She underscored the critical need for educational programs addressing consent and healthy relationships, urging that plans to curtail sex education in schools should be reconsidered.
“There is a cultural urgency to tackle these issues, in addition to legal reforms,” she asserted, referencing tragic cases like that of Carolina Picchio, Italy’s first cyberbullying victim, who died by suicide after being unable to cope with the shame of non-consensual content spread about her.
