“It’s an act of violence and an abuse that scars one’s dignity, reputation and trust,” Barra said in an Instagram post.
The probe into the images allegedly published online follows the cases of a sexist Facebook group called Mia Moglie (My Wife), where users shared private photos without the consent of the women concerned, and Phica, the name of which echoes the Italian slang word for vagina, where photos of politicians, influencers and actresses were among those published.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of the victims in the case, has said she finds the sites disgusting and said they constitute the crime of revenge porn.
Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) politicians Valeria Campagna, Alessandra Moretti, Alessia Morani, Lia Quartapelle and Simona Malpezzi are also among the women to have filed complaints against Phica.
Investigations are also underway to determine how those photos were stolen and distributed and to identify the authors of the sexist and offensive comments.
Among the victims of the site are influencer Chiara Ferragni, sports presenter Diletta Leotta, journalists Benedetta Parodi and Selvaggia Lucarelli, singer Angelina Mango and screen icon Sophia Loren.
Other victims include singers Elodie, Anna Tatangelo, Arisa and Annalisa, presenters Elisabetta Canalis, Martina Colombari, Maria De Filippi and Michelle Hunziker, and journalists Paola Perego, Francesca Fagnani and Veronica Gentili.
ANSA
