An adult website has been found to have published manipulated images of several prominent Italian women, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her sister Arianna. These images, accompanied by sexist and offensive captions, have triggered widespread outrage across Italy. The pictures are believed to have been sourced from social media or public platforms before being altered and uploaded to the Italian adult site, Phica, which boasts over 700,000 subscribers. The manipulated images of female politicians, drawn from various political affiliations, were sourced from public appearances such as rallies and television interviews, as well as from personal vacation photos. The edits focused on body parts or depicted the women in suggestive sexual poses, and these images were subsequently posted in the website’s “VIP section.” Following the discovery, members of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) have lodged a formal legal complaint, and the police have initiated an investigation into the matter. Other high-profile women, including actor and filmmaker Paola Cortellesi, the director of the Italian box-office hit on domestic violence, *C’è Ancora Domani* ( *There’s Still Tomorrow* ), and influencer Chiara Ferragni, were also targeted with doctored images on the site. Valeria Campagna, a PD politician who filed an official complaint, expressed her disgust, anger, and disappointment on Facebook, stating that she could not remain silent. She wrote, “Not just photos in a swimsuit but moments from my public and private life,” further noting the presence of sexist, vulgar, and violent comments accompanying the images. Campagna emphasized the broader implications, stating, “I can’t stay silent because this story isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us. It’s about our right to be free, respected and to live without fear.”
