Broadcaster Francesca Barra speaks out on AI-fuelled misogyny amid deepfake scandal

 ROME -- Political broadcaster Francesca Barra, who has previously worked for RAI, has become the first prominent figure in Italy to publicly denounce the misogynistic platform ‘Social Media Girls’, after discovering that AI-generated, nudified images of her were circulating online without her consent. 

 The site, with more than seven million subscribers worldwide, is currently under investigation for the creation and distribution of non-consential nude images, as well as encouraging threats of sexual violence against women and girls, some reportedly as young as 14. Its rise follows the investigation and closure of Mia Moglie (My Wife), a Facebook group where 32,000 members shared intimate images of their wives without consent. Following public outcry and the landmark Giselle Pelicot case in France, Meta finally shut down the page "for violating our Adult Sexual Exploitation policies'', adding: “we do not allow content that threatens or promotes sexual violence, sexual assault or sexual exploitation on our platforms". 

 Critics argue that such statements come too little, too late. ‘Social Media Girls’ is only the latest in a growing network of forums weaponising AI to humiliate female public figures, as dozens of broadcasters, politicians and actors continue to come forward to report this “virtual rape”, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. However, the vast majority of victims lack the financial or legal means to pursue justice and many report their frustration that police have dismissed or minimised their complaints.

 A representative of the Bernardini de Pace law firm, Daniela Caputo, notes that gathering statements from young women and encouraging them to come forward in a class action lawsuit against these platforms remains one of the biggest challenges for prosecutors, as the barriers to seeking justice can differ greatly between generations and social classes. For a young woman, she explains, it is often far more daunting than for “older, more accomplished women” as she “fears that over-exposing herself will affect her reputation, her job prospects and, ultimately, the rest of her life.”

 In 2025, Italy became the first EU-member state to approve comprehensive regulations governing the responsible use of AI, introducing prison sentences for those convicted of creating or sharing AI-generated content with the intention of harm. However, locating and subsequently prosecuting the creators of these sites is a complex task, since many are based overseas and fall outside the jurisdiction of Italian law.

 The evolution of online misogyny extends far beyond Italian borders and demands a coordinated international response. As technology continues to outpace regulation, the line between innovation and abuse grows increasingly blurred and the spread of AI-generated deepfake images has a significant impact upon the lives of women across all demographics. In response to this evolving form of sexual violence, critics argue that European legal systems need to do more to strengthen AI governance and to ensure that global platforms are held accountable for the abuse they enable.

 khg-dp