Sexist website closed after photos of politicians ended up online. Roccella: soon government measures against this barbarity
The forum in question is Phica.eu. Among those who found their images there were, among others, PD MEP Alessandra Moretti, the leader of the Dem group in the Latina city council and deputy secretary of the Lazio PD, Valeria Campagna, and the former Dem undersecretary at Mise and candidate in the Marche regional elections, Alessia Morani, and the Dem deputy Lia Quartapelle
3' min read
3' min read
The site 'Phica.eu', on which photos of actresses, influencers, singers, journalists and politicians were posted and commented, has decided to close. In a statement that appeared on the forum's homepage, the staff announced 'with great regret' that they had decided to 'close down and definitively delete everything that was wrong'. "Phica," they write, "was born as a platform for discussion and personal sharing, with a space dedicated to those who wished to certify themselves and share their content in a safe environment. Unfortunately, as happens in every social network, there are always people who misuse the platforms, damaging their original spirit and meaning. It happened with Facebook, with the groups on Telegram, and it happened here too. Despite our efforts, we were not able to stop in time all those toxic behaviours that pushed Phica to become, in the eyes of many, a place to distance oneself from rather than feel proud to be a part of.
Sexist phrases
According to the site staff, 'violence of any kind has always been banned, blocked and denounced. Child pornography has never been tolerated. Insults towards women, pack language and denigrating attitudes banned, blocked and denounced'. Yet, sexist phrases and incitements to rape were encountered. The Phica.eu website has been active since 2005. There one could find pictures of girls of all kinds and in the most varied situations: sitting at the bar, at the school exit or waiting at the bus stop, in swimming costumes by the pool, or in a city of art. And below, the gruesome comments. The most popular shots are those at the beach: girls sunbathing topless or in other private situations. Recently, some actresses and influencers have also complained about photos of them on the forum. After the Facebook group 'My Wife' in which over 30,000 men posted intimate photos of their often unsuspecting wives, this web undergrowth of non-consensual pornography is now flourishing.
Photos stolen from social media
Some women involved in politics also ended up in the net. Their photos were stolen from social networks and put on the web, accompanied by often obscene comments. Among those who found their pictures were, among others, the PDP MEP Alessandra Moretti, the leader of the Dem group in the Latina town council and deputy secretary of the PD Lazio, Valeria Campagna, and the former Dem undersecretary at the Mise and candidate in the regional elections in Marche Alessia Morani, the Dem deputy Lia Quartapelle
