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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned an adult website accused of publishing doctored images of her, her sister, and other prominent women, calling it a "disgusting" violation of dignity.
The platform, known as Phica, its name a crude play on Italian slang, was shut down on Thursday after mounting outrage. At its peak, the forum had hundreds of thousands of members, many of whom allegedly posted altered photos of women sourced from public platforms, alongside sexist and degrading commentary.
Meloni told Corriere della Sera that she stood in solidarity with all victims of the site. "I am disgusted by what happened. It is disheartening that in 2025 some still believe it is acceptable to trample on a woman's dignity while hiding behind anonymity or a keyboard," she said.
Her sister Arianna, also a senior figure in the Brothers of Italy party, criticized the culture of online voyeurism, describing it as a "bad habit of a click-driven society" that intrudes on private lives and belittles women's achievements.
The scandal has reignited debate in Italy over digital abuse and deepfake pornography. In 2019, Italy introduced a revenge porn law carrying prison sentences of up to six years for sharing explicit material without consent. Still, campaigners say enforcement lags behind the rapid growth of online platforms.
Meloni herself has taken legal action before: last year she sued two men accused of creating a deepfake video of her, pledging to donate any damages to victims of gender-based violence.
Women's rights advocates and politicians have urged stronger protections after Phica's collapse, noting it was not the first such incident. Earlier this month, Facebook shut down a group with over 30,000 members where men shared intimate images of women without their knowledge.
Equality Minister Eugenia Roccella confirmed the government is considering tighter online safeguards. "We must act to protect women from digital violence," she said.
The scandal has sparked calls for tougher penalties and cultural reform, with activists warning that unchecked misogyny online is spilling dangerously into real life.
