Election campaigning in the age of social media. Alfio Baffa, a young candidate for the Lega party in the upcoming regional elections in Calabria, has recently become suddenly famous for posting a video of himself in a bathtub. The images, depicting him lying down, cigar in mouth and a glass of whiskey in hand, are remarkably similar to a famous scene starring Al Pacino in the film Scarface, which chronicles the rise and fall of a Cuban drug lord in America (most will undoubtedly remember it). It's a cult scene that must have struck aspiring councilor Baffa so much, still reeling from the words spoken during Salvini's rally in Piazza San Giovanni in Rome, that he couldn't help but emulate the protagonist. The Lega candidate responded to the immediate outrage on social media by expressing surprise at having suddenly become famous for what he believes to be just a prank. We might even believe it, if it weren't for the WhatsApp group the video was posted to, which, as he himself states in the images, is called Reveng Porn, a name that casts further shadows over the whole affair. It begs the question: what does this group do? Recall that revenge porn is an English expression that refers to sharing images or videos posted online to exact revenge on one's partner or ex while they are depicted in sexual poses or acts. A very famous case of revenge porn was that of the late Tiziana Cantone, who committed suicide after her boyfriend posted a series of private images online, which ended up on major pornography channels. The woman couldn't stand the scandal and, after a difficult legal battle, which she partially lost due to a procedural flaw, she took her own life. It was precisely thanks to the outcry this story generated that a bill was subsequently introduced. In Italy, revenge porn is therefore a crime punishable by law with a sentence of one to six years and heavy fines. Returning to the case of Lega candidate Alfio Baffa for Calabria Regional Council, the question remains: what is the purpose of this WhatsApp group, Reveng Porn, to which the young man sent his video? Perhaps to increase penalties for such a heinous crime? Or to exchange compromising photos? A question we await an answer to.
Marcella Aliberti
EDITORIAL TEAM
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