For years, intimate photos of women were posted in the Italian Facebook group “Mia Moglie” without their consent. As if that were not bad enough, men commented on the posts with sexist and sometimes explicitly violent statements such as:
“I know exactly what I would do to her.”
“Fuck her.”
“I would rape her.”
The Facebook page – its name translates to “My Wife” – was created in January 2019 and remained online and undisturbed for more than six years. Only in late August 2025, after massive public pressure, did Meta finally remove it.
My Wife = My Property?
The group’s name, Mia Moglie, was no accident. It implies a clear claim of ownership: “Look – this is my wife, and I can do whatever I want with her.”
Although the distribution of so-called “revenge porn” has been punishable in Italy since 2019, more than 30,000 men in the group shared intimate images of women – sleeping, changing clothes, or in explicitly sexual situations. Many photos were taken of partners, girlfriends, or relatives without their knowledge or consent. Others were pulled from the internet or created with AI. In both cases, the women were presented, rated, and sexualized like prey.
A Facebook Scandal Shocks Italy
According to the newspaper Der Kurier, a 35-year-old nurse stumbled upon the scandalous group by chance. She first protested publicly online and urged her friends to join her. Later she contacted the postal police, Italy’s cybercrime unit.
When her report drew only dismissive comments from men who called it “fun” or “just a game,” she reached out on Instagram to writer and feminist Carolina Capria. Only after Capria spoke out publicly did the case gain traction. Horrified, Capria wrote:
“I spent a few hours yesterday looking at photos of women at the beach, in the supermarket, on the shore, reading the posts and comments. I felt sick; I was afraid.”
Capria warned that women were being subjected to a “virtual rape” and drew parallels to the Gisèle Pelicot case:
“Manon Garcia writes in her essay on the Pelicot case that the problem of consent is not primarily a legal one — French law now recognizes that violence begins where consent is absent and that consent must be explicit – but rather a social one. The men in the courtroom (guilty of abusing an unconscious woman) were absolutely unfamiliar with the concept of consent in sexuality. An unconscious woman who does not resist is consenting. A wife, the husband’s property, is consenting. Consent is implicit. Women do not have to speak; women are available.”
Fiorella Zabatta of the European Green Party also issued sharp criticism:
“These platforms must be fought, and this toxic idea of masculinity must be fought – society and politics have to start to act.”
“Mia Moglie” Has Now Been Removed
In August 2025, Meta took the group offline after public outcry. In a statement the company said:
“We do not allow content on our platforms that threatens or promotes sexual violence, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation.”
Yet the page operated for more than six years despite clear violations. Countless similar groups exist – not only on Facebook but also on Telegram and other platforms. When one page is shut down, several new ones often appear immediately.
The problem, therefore, cannot be solved by takedowns alone; it requires a fundamental rethinking of digital violence and the structures that enable it.
What Can I Do If Intimate Images of Me Appear Online?
If you unexpectedly find intimate images of yourself online, it is important not to look away, even though it is difficult. CyberGhost recommends the following steps:
1. Secure evidence
First, preserve evidence. Take screenshots of the posted photos or videos and save the links to all websites or social-media profiles where they appear. Also document every communication with the perpetrators – via messenger, email, or social networks.
2. Have the content removed
Contact the operators of the affected websites or platforms and demand immediate deletion of the material. Many networks such as Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok offer dedicated reporting tools.
3. Seek support
No one should go through this alone. Consult specialized attorneys with experience in such cases for legal advice. Psychological support or talking with trusted people can also help.
4. File a police report
After securing evidence, file a criminal complaint – ideally in consultation with an attorney.
5. Use therapeutic help
The non-consensual publication of intimate photos can cause deep emotional harm. Take your feelings seriously and seek professional therapy if needed to process the experience.
Translated by Julia Matzinger
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