Annamaria Bernardini de Pace on Phica.eu Scandal: “Sisterhood is Always Denouncing” – A Call for Collective Action Against Sexist Online Abuse
Rome, Italy – August 30, 2025 – Renowned Italian family law attorney Annamaria Bernardini de Pace has taken a firm stand against the proliferation of sexist content on online platforms, particularly in the wake of the Phica.eu scandal. In recent statements, she emphasized the power of solidarity among women, declaring, “Sisterhood is always denouncing,” as she announced plans for a class action lawsuit to support victims of non-consensual image sharing and misogynistic commentary. The phrase, which underscores the ongoing vigilance and collective outrage of women against digital violations, has resonated widely amid investigations into sites like Phica.eu and the Facebook group “Mia Moglie,” where private photos of women—including politicians, actresses, and everyday individuals—were posted without permission, often altered and accompanied by degrading remarks.
Bernardini de Pace, a prominent matrimonial lawyer known for her advocacy in women’s rights and high-profile divorce cases, is collaborating with criminal lawyer David Leggi to launch the initiative. Speaking to Adnkronos and ANSA, she explained that the class action will seek damages from platforms like Facebook for failing to moderate harmful content, while also pursuing civil and penal actions against perpetrators. “We will do a class action to assist all women who found their photos on groups and sites like ‘Mia Moglie’ and ‘Phica,’ demanding compensation for damages also from platforms like Facebook for lack of control,” she stated. Victims can contact her directly at abdp@abdp.it for participation, with Bernardini de Pace waiving standard fees in a symbolic gesture of solidarity. “All women, starting from those who have been victims of these ‘deficient’ husbands, can contact me,” she added, highlighting the betrayal often involved in such cases.
The Phica.eu Scandal: A Catalyst for Outrage
Phica.eu, an adult-oriented forum that had been operational for over a decade and attracted more than 800,000 users, became the epicenter of controversy after users uploaded and manipulated photos of prominent women without consent. Among the targets were Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, her sister Arianna, Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein, actress Paola Cortellesi, influencer Chiara Ferragni, and journalist Mara Venier. Images were often digitally altered to depict nudity, paired with vulgar, sexist comments that ranged from objectification to outright threats. The site, which positioned itself as a “safe space for sharing personal content,” faced widespread backlash, leading to its abrupt closure on August 28, 2025. In a statement on its homepage, Phica announced it had deleted “everything that was done wrong” and offered users a €145 fee to erase their data, but this did little to quell the fury.
The scandal parallels the earlier exposure of the “Mia Moglie” (My Wife) Facebook group, which boasted over 32,000 members—mostly men—sharing intimate photos of their partners without permission, fueling fantasies and derogatory discussions. The group, which included professionals like police officers, doctors, and executives, was shut down by Meta for violating policies on adult sexual exploitation. Writer and activist Carolina Capria first brought “Mia Moglie” to public attention via Instagram, igniting a wave of denunciations that highlighted the pervasive nature of online gender-based violence.
Italian authorities have responded swiftly: The Postal Police has forwarded an initial report to the Rome Prosecutor’s Office, prompting the opening of an investigation file. Additional reports may go to other prosecutor’s offices as denunciations pour in nationwide. Potential charges include unauthorized dissemination of sexually explicit images (Article 612-ter of the Penal Code, or “revenge porn”), privacy violations (Article 167 of the Privacy Code), aggravated defamation, stalking, harassment, and incitement to crime. Victims have a six-month window to file complaints, and investigators anticipate a surge due to the case’s high visibility. Meloni herself expressed disgust, calling it “revenge porn” and offering solidarity to affected women, while pledging to report incidents to the Postal Police and Privacy Authority.
Bernardini de Pace’s Vision: Empowerment Through “Sisterhood”
Bernardini de Pace’s invocation of “sisterhood” frames the response as a unified front against systemic misogyny. “In these cases, the constitutional principle protecting personal identity and dignity has been violated, and in particular, the female identity has been brutally wounded with the brutal use of those images,” she told ANSA. The class action, potentially split into two—one for “Mia Moglie” and one for Phica—aims to hold platforms accountable for inadequate moderation. Early supporters include the Children’s Ombudsman and various women’s associations, with one man joining in a show of allyship. “To our initiative in defense of women, even a man has adhered, only one for now,” she noted wryly.
The lawyer, who has built a career defending women in family law and authoring books on gender dynamics, sees this as an opportunity to address broader issues. She plans to explore interventions with the Privacy Authority and push for parliamentary reforms to curb illicit digital content. “We might act with two class actions,” she explained, outlining potential penal pursuits for revenge porn, stalking, and more.
Broader Implications: A Push for Digital Accountability
The scandals have elevated the issue to Italy’s parliamentary agenda, with discussions on stricter regulations for online platforms. Advocacy groups and victims’ rights organizations praise Bernardini de Pace’s efforts, noting that fear of isolation or high costs often deters legal action. By offering symbolic fees and direct outreach, she aims to empower survivors. Social media, particularly X, has amplified calls for justice, with users sharing stories and tagging authorities. One post lamented, “Phica and Mia Moglie expose the dark underbelly of online misogyny—time for real change.”
As investigations continue, Bernardini de Pace’s “sisterhood” message serves as a rallying cry, transforming individual violations into a collective demand for dignity and reform. For women affected, her initiative offers not just legal recourse but a reminder: Denouncing together is the path to healing and accountability.
Sources: Adnkronos, ANSA, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica, Il Fatto Quotidiano, Il Giorno