Italy’s digital misogyny: website finally taken down

An explicit content website in Italy called Phica, a misspelt slang for female genitalia, was finally shut down on Thursday after it was circulating photos of women without their consent. Among those targeted were some of Italy’s most high-profile figures like Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, opposition leader Elly Schlein, European Parliament member Alessandra Moretti and…

Par

An explicit content website in Italy called Phica, a misspelt slang for female genitalia, was finally shut down on Thursday after it was circulating photos of women without their consent.

Among those targeted were some of Italy’s most high-profile figures like Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, opposition leader Elly Schlein, European Parliament member Alessandra Moretti and others. The images were often lifted from TV appearances or social media, then altered, sexualised, and accompanied by vulgar captions. But why are sites like this still operating with impunity?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

InVivo

The newsletter that takes you to the heart of European news.

Every other week

Your data is processed in accordance with the GDPR.

Every two weeks, a personal story takes you to a different European country to help you understand how current social and environmental issues shape our daily lives. In each issue, our team selects three cultural recommendations to explore the topic from a different angle. Available in French, English, and Italian—and it’s free.