Italian platform Phica closes after sharing altered images of PM, her sister, opposition leader and others
The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has said she is “disgusted” that photos of her and other women were posted on a pornographic website, and called for the perpetrators to be swiftly identified and “punished with the utmost firmness”.
Images of Meloni’s sister, Arianna, and the opposition leader, Elly Schlein, were also discovered on the Italian platform Phica, which had more than 700,000 subscribers before its managers closed the site on Thursday, blaming users for “using the platform incorrectly”.
The photos, accompanied by vulgar and sexist captions, were taken from either personal social media accounts or public sources without consent and altered to zoom in on body parts or depict the women in sexual poses. Dozens of women have come forward to file complaints about Phica and similar platforms since the scandal was exposed this week by several prominent women.
“I am disgusted by what has happened,” Meloni told Corriere della Sera on Friday. “I want to extend my solidarity and support to all the women who have been offended, insulted and violated.”
