Lucrezia Ciotti The Phica case is once again making headlines. A few months after the Postal Police seized the sexist website, a new Telegram group has emerged that uses its name and practices, gathering thousands of members in just a few days. Intimate photographs of women are shared without their consent, amid offensive comments and the exchange of private content.
A phenomenon that reignites the alarm about digital violence and the illicit dissemination of personal images.
"Phica – La rinascita" (Phica – The Rebirth), the sexist group returns to Telegram: thousands of members and private photos shared without consent.
A few months after the seizure of Phica.eu , the site at the centre of an investigation for publishing intimate images of women without their consent , the phenomenon seems to be reappearing on another platform.
The new Telegram group, called "Phica – La rinascita," takes its name and uses the same methods as the portal closed by the Postal Police in September 2025. Within the chat, private photographs of wives, girlfriends, and friends are shared, often unbeknownst to the individuals concerned, accompanied by sexist and offensive comments . In some cases, users even propose comparisons between images, organizing actual competitions and offering videos in exchange for other content.
Access to the group, as verified by Repubblica , is extremely easy: simply submit a membership request and you'll be admitted within seconds.
Telegram chat and stolen images grow: over 11 users in just a few days
The group's growth has accelerated dramatically. When the case was reported by Radio Popolare on October 30, there were approximately 1.400 members. Within three days, the number had risen to over 11,000 participants , reaching 11.159 at 12:00 PM and 11.240 just two hours later. Hundreds of photographs and videos from various Italian cities, from Turin to Rome, Milan, and Palermo, are circulating in the chat. The images , also divided into thematic categories, portray women in private situations or are taken from their social media profiles. Some content is temporary and disappears after a predetermined interval, based on the timer settings. Meanwhile, the flow of messages and comments continues unabated.
It's not yet clear who created the group, nor whether the same people behind the old portal are behind it , or people who have adopted its model. Telegram's structure and its confidentiality policies make it more difficult to identify its administrators.
The story also brings to the fore the previous case of the Facebook page Mia moglie , which, along with Phica.eu, has come under scrutiny by the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office, with a case open for revenge porn . Chiara Gribaudo, vice president of the Democratic Party, intervened in the new chat, denouncing the gravity of what is happening: " It's a disgrace. Not only that: it is real gender violence and, as rightly happened a year ago, it must be blocked and prosecuted ." The parliamentarian also emphasized the ease with which users can access the group, calling for rapid identification and action to be taken against those responsible: " How long will we have to wait for action? "