Rome — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was “disgusted” after learning that sexually explicit, doctored images of her and several other prominent women were published on a pornographic website, igniting outrage across the political spectrum and prompting a criminal investigation.
The scandal erupted when a site called Phica, a crude play on Italian slang, was found to be hosting manipulated images of well-known figures, including Meloni’s sister Arianna Meloni, opposition leader Elly Schlein, and celebrities such as Chiara Ferragni and Paola Cortellesi. Many of the pictures were drawn from social media or public appearances, digitally altered to sexualize the women, and paired with vulgar captions. The site, active for nearly two decades, had amassed hundreds of thousands of users before its operators abruptly shut it down.
Meloni denounced the website in a statement, calling its existence “a disgraceful violation of women’s dignity” and urging authorities to punish those responsible “with the utmost firmness.” She added that the incident underscored a broader societal problem, noting that even in 2025, “anonymity online continues to shield predators who think degrading women is normal and acceptable.”
The revelations have galvanized a broad political response. Equality Minister Eugenia Roccella confirmed that the government would pursue tougher measures against digital gender-based violence, while lawmakers from both the right and left filed complaints against the website. Center-left deputy Alessia Morani described the images as “unacceptable and obscene,” and fellow lawmaker Lia Quartapelle said the case represented “a fight for the dignity of all women, not just those directly targeted.”
The public outcry has been amplified by civil society groups. A petition on Change.org demanding the site’s closure drew more than 150,000 signatures in days, while rights activists stressed that the case highlights the urgent need for cultural as well as legislative change. A 2019 University of Milan study found that one in five Italian women had suffered some form of non-consensual image sharing, illustrating the widespread nature of the abuse.
The scandal comes just weeks after Italy’s Senate passed new laws broadening protections against stalking, sexual violence, and so-called revenge porn, defining femicide legally for the first time. Advocates say the exposure of Phica shows how pervasive digital misogyny remains despite legal reforms, and how far Italy still has to go in confronting it.
According to The Guardian, which first reported the case in detail, Italian prosecutors are now investigating the matter after the government and multiple political figures lodged formal complaints, underscoring the scale of public anger and the demand for accountability.
