'Virtual Gangrape': Italian Facebook Group Where Men Shared Images Of Their Wives Sparks Outcry
Facebook (Meta) has shut down an Italian public group named “Mia Moglie” (“My Wife”)—active since 2019 with around 32,000 members—in which men were sharing intimate or erotic images of their wives and partners, often without their consent. The group featured sexualized commentary and denigrating discussions, and many of the images were taken secretly or generated using AI .
Feminist influencer Carolina Capria denounced the group on Instagram, likening the behavior to a “virtual gang rape”, which, together with the activism of the organization No Justice No Peace, sparked a massive public backlash that prompted Meta to act .
The Italian Postal Police received thousands of complaints (around 2,800) and referred the case to the prosecutors. Legal experts warned that participants could face criminal charges—such as revenge porn, privacy violations, aggravated defamation, and possibly child pornography—with penalties of up to six years in prison under Italian law .
Political leaders and women’s associations condemned the incident as symptomatic of a broader culture of digital gender violence rooted in patriarchal norms. They called for comprehensive reforms, stronger protections for women’s digital privacy, and better oversight of online platforms
