The rape of a 16-year-old girl in Lisbon’s Loures district, allegedly caught on social media video, has outraged Portugal. The footage has been viewed 32,000 times, yet no viewers reported it to the police. Three suspects, aged 17 to 19, were arrested and released by a court with restrictions. MEP Ana Catarina Mendes called on the EU to address the dissemination of harmful online material, citing other cases such as upskirting at the University of Porto. She expressed concerns about online safety and the protection of women in the digital space.
Following the disturbing events, hundreds of people rallied in Lisbon for stricter laws. Protesters demanded that rape be treated as a public offense and that social media platforms be held accountable for sharing harmful content. Left Bloc coordinator Mariana Mortágua highlighted the issue of male chauvinism spreading through the internet and emphasized the need for rules regulating social networks. Livre MP Isabel Mendes Lopes pointed out the structural gender inequality that is perpetuated online and called for combating harmful narratives. PAN party MP Inês Sousa Real advocated for better mechanisms to report crimes and protect victims, as well as education on self-defence in schools.
After experiencing the public sharing of an intimate video on Telegram, Inês Marinho founded the ‘Don’t Share’ movement in 2021 to support victims of image-based sexual violence. Marinho expressed concern about the normalization and trivialization of these crimes due to the widespread sharing of intimate content and violence against women online. She highlighted the sense of impunity felt by aggressors hiding behind screens. A Portuguese Telegram channel exposed by NiT magazine revealed 70,000 men sharing intimate images of women without consent, illustrating the pervasiveness of online image-based sexual violence.
The case in Loures prompted Socialist MEP Ana Catarina Mendes to question the EU about measures to ensure social media platforms swiftly remove harmful content and prevent non-consensual material from spreading. The lack of action by viewers who watched the video highlights the importance of bystander intervention and the need for a societal shift to prioritize the protection of victims and the prevention of online violence. Stricter laws and accountability for online platforms were demanded by protesters in Lisbon, emphasizing the urgency of addressing harmful online behaviors. The intersection of gender inequality and online violence underscores the importance of comprehensive policies to combat harmful narratives and protect vulnerable populations.
In response to the disturbing video and related incidents, calls for action to address online safety, gender inequality, and the protection of victims have grown louder in Portugal. The rally in Lisbon and statements from political leaders underscore the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the root causes of online violence and hold perpetrators and platforms accountable. The advocacy of individuals like Inês Marinho, who have experienced firsthand the impact of image-based sexual violence, highlights the urgent need for support services and prevention efforts to combat these pervasive crimes. The EU’s role in regulating online platforms and ensuring the swift removal of harmful content is crucial in creating a safer digital environment for all citizens, particularly women and vulnerable populations.
