Two million Italians have been victims of Revenge porn. 14 million viewed the images. A report

About two million Italians have been victims of Revenge porn, while 14 million people have watched images of non-consensual pornography online. These are the main results of a survey conducted by TF Group srlan online reputation analysis and research and management company, on behalf of PermessoNegato.it APS, a non-profit social promotion that deals with support for victims of Non-Consensual Pornographyonline violence and hate speech.

Through an online questionnaire submitted to a statistical sample of almost 2,000representative of the distribution of the Italian population according to criteria of sex, age and region of residence, the behaviors and attitudes of Italians on the subject of non-consensual pornography, better known as “Revenge Porn”, were measured.

4% of Italians victim of Revenge porn, 9% know a victim

The survey shows in particular that 4% of Italians have been a victim of Revenge Porn and that almost 9% know a victim; the average age of the victims is about 27 years, 70% women and 30% men, while 13% belong to the LGBQT + community. Furthermore, the phenomenon is quite well known to the majority of Italians (75% have at least heard of it), but the 17% are convinced that the phenomenon does not constitute a crime in Italy, this share rises to as much as 35% among the victims; this is why half of them declare that they have not filed a complaint.

Often the unauthorized re-sharing of intimate images or videos (1 in 6 Italians claim to have produced this type of content and 1 in 4 to have seen intimate content from others) occurs after sending the content to someone “di which we trusted ». This theme of the loss of confidence in others (as well as in justice) also returns among the psychological and social consequences most highlighted by the victims: the sense of abandonment and loneliness is added to the most reported psychological consequences such as depression or anxiety, changes in social habits and difficulties in relationships.

Research in 10 key points

1. How many victims: The Fool – Permesso Denato study estimates that the victims of Revenge Porn in Italy are about 2 million (4% of the population), almost 9% of Italians claim to know a victim.

2. Middle age: The average age of the victims is 27, 70% women and 30% men. About 13% are part of the LGBQT + community

3. Perception: 1 in 3 victims believe that Revenge Porn is not a crime in Italy. This feeds the percentage of victims who do not report the fact to the authorities, in fact only 50% file a complaint.

4. They do not report: Victims do not report mainly because they often try to “mediate” with the perpetrator of the gesture, hoping to remove the content, or because they feel too embarrassed to act (in 50% when men are victims):

   1. but there is also widespread mistrust in the authorities: 32% fear that the affair could become public knowledge;

   2. 13% fear judicial notices at their home;

   3. 7% declare that they do not trust the judicial system:

   4. even 10% fear repercussions from the person reported.

5. Known: Revenge Porn is a known phenomenon: 75% have at least heard of it and 42% say they know the phenomenon.

6. Perception of the crime: 17% of Italians are convinced that it is not a crime and 1% do not even consider it a “serious fact”. However, non-consensual pornography is generally considered to be one of the most troubling aspects of cybersecurity.

7. Material production: The lack of awareness of the seriousness of the phenomenon means that in Italy the production and dissemination of intimate images or videos or with private sexual content is very widespread: 1 in 6 Italians has produced this type of content at least once and half of them have admitted having shared them with others.

8. Trust betrayed: In most cases, unauthorized re-sharing occurs as a result of the victim sharing the content with someone “trusted”. It follows a loss of trust in others among the psychological and social consequences most highlighted by the victims.

9. Distrust of institutions: The results show a greater distrust on the part of the victims towards all forms of conflict and in particular towards the actions of the Police Forces; this exacerbates the sense of isolation and abandonment of the victims, which is added to the psychological consequences such as depression or anxiety, changes in social habits and relationship difficulties that hinder their social and personal relationships.

10. No repentance: There is no “repentance” among the “executioners”, those who re-shared the sexual contents of others: only 13% declared they were wrong, 10% is justified by not being aware that the content was not consensual, but the the majority considers it amusing or otherwise not offensive.