Meta has shut down an Italian Facebook group where thousands of men exchanged intimate photos of women, many of whom were unaware their images were being shared.
The group, called Mia Moglie (My Wife), had about 32,000 members before its removal for violating rules on sexual exploitation.
Screenshots captured before the closure revealed images of women in vulnerable situations, including while asleep or during private moments.
The posts drew disturbing comments, with some men making violent remarks and others encouraging the covert sharing of photos.
The group’s existence triggered outrage across Italy. Author Carolina Capria, who exposed the page, described feeling sickened by the content and warned about the normalization of linking violence with sexuality.
Politician Fiorella Zabatta called the group “virtual rape” and urged both civil society and lawmakers to act against such communities.
Revenge porn became a criminal offense in Italy in 2019, and police cybercrime units are now investigating the case after receiving over a thousand reports.
Meta reiterated that it bans all material promoting sexual violence or exploitation across its platforms.
Observers noted similarities to past cases, such as the high-profile conviction of Dominique Pelicot in France, underscoring ongoing concerns about online spaces that encourage abuse under the guise of male bonding.