Italian Police Shut Down Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent

Italian authorities have permanently shut down a Facebook group where thousands of men shared intimate images of women, often without their consent.

The group, called “Mia Moglie” (My Wife), had nearly 32,000 members and was active since 2019. According to Italy’s Postal Police, which oversees online law enforcement, the group hosted hundreds of thousands of images — many posted without the knowledge of the women depicted, including wives, girlfriends, sisters, and strangers. Some images were taken during sex acts or when victims were asleep.

Deputy director of the Roman Postal Police Barbara Strappato said her team worked around the clock to have the page blocked after more than 2,000 complaints were filed to Meta and local authorities. “The crimes range from defamation to the dissemination of intimate material without consent. I admit that I have never seen such disturbing phrases in a social media group before,” she said.

The group’s closure was triggered by formal complaints from feminist activist and author Carolina Capria, who publicly flagged the group on Instagram and filed a report with police.

While Facebook’s parent company Meta confirmed the group was removed for violating its policies on sexual exploitation, investigators warn that similar exploitative groups often resurface on encrypted platforms like Telegram, where cooperation with law enforcement is limited.

The case has drawn comparisons to high-profile sexual abuse cases in Europe and reignited calls for stronger enforcement of Italy’s 2019 “revenge porn” law, which makes the illegal dissemination of explicit images punishable by up to six years in prison.

Once police complete their investigation, the case will be handed to the Rome prosecutor’s office to determine potential charges.

“While this group has been shut down, the broader issue remains,” Capria said. “There are dozens of others like it. Until platforms take stronger action, women will remain at risk.”

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