Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni has expressed strong condemnation of a pornographic website that allegedly displayed doctored images of her and several other high-profile women. The site, known as Phica, was reportedly taken down by its managers on Thursday following intense public backlash. It had garnered hundreds of thousands of subscribers, many of whom contributed to the posting of images alongside misogynistic and offensive commentary.
The forum’s closure comes after users allegedly manipulated images sourced from social media and public platforms, posting them with derogatory captions. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Meloni stated, “I am disgusted by what happened, and I want to extend my solidarity and support to all the women who have been offended, insulted, and violated in their intimacy by the managers of this forum and its users.”
Political Response and Legal Context
Meloni emphasized the distressing reality that, even in 2025, some individuals consider it acceptable to violate a woman’s dignity through anonymity provided by the internet. She highlighted the importance of protecting personal data and privacy in an era where such violations have become alarmingly common.
Italy has laws regarding “revenge porn,” established in 2019, which criminalize the unauthorized sharing of sexually explicit images. Offenders can face up to six years in prison. Meloni’s remarks come at a time when the issue of online harassment and privacy invasion is increasingly pressing in public discourse.
Her sister, Arianna Meloni, who is also a prominent figure in the Brothers of Italy party, echoed these sentiments. In her comments to Corriere della Sera, she described the situation as indicative of a “bad habit of a click-through society” that intrudes into private lives and detracts from the achievements of women.
Previous Incidents and Ongoing Legal Battles
The Prime Minister has previously spoken out on women’s issues, including the dangers of deepfake pornography and domestic violence. In 2024, she initiated legal proceedings against a father and son accused of creating a deepfake video featuring her likeness. She is seeking €100,000 (approximately $180,000) in damages, with plans to donate any awarded funds to a state initiative supporting victims of violence. The next court hearing for the case is scheduled for September.
Meloni’s lawyer, Maria Giulia Marongiu, emphasized that the Prime Minister aims to set a precedent, encouraging other victims of revenge and deepfake pornography to speak out against defamation. The phenomenon of deepfakes involves digitally altered content that can closely resemble real individuals, while doctored images may retain some original features but are manipulated to distort reality.
The controversy surrounding Phica has reignited discussions about women’s rights in Italy. This incident follows the recent closure of another social media page where men posted intimate images of women, many shared without consent. This earlier case also spurred public outrage and police complaints, highlighting the ongoing struggles against gender-based harassment and the urgency for protective measures in the digital age.
Meloni’s stance reaffirms the critical need for societal change and legal reform to safeguard women’s dignity and privacy in an increasingly digital world.
