When Technology Policy Defends Human Dignity
Purism
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Lessons from Italy’s Stand Against Non‑Consensual Imagery
A Victory for Rights in the Digital Age
In late August, Italy took a decisive step to protect women from one of the most insidious forms of online abuse: the non‑consensual sharing of intimate or misappropriated images. After years of complaints, activism, and public outrage, a notorious website — home to thousands of stolen photos of women, from ordinary citizens to public figures — was forced offline following a wave of legal and political pressure.
This wasn’t just about shutting down one site. It was about affirming a principle: technology policy can and must be used to defend basic human rights and dignity.
The Harm Is Real — and Systemic
The Italian case is a stark reminder that digital tools can be weaponized to humiliate, control, and endanger. These sites didn’t just post stolen images — they often altered them, paired them with obscene commentary, and in some cases glorified violence against women.
This is not “free speech.” It’s targeted harm. And when platforms and networks fail to act, the law must step in.
Purism’s Digital Bill of Rights: A Blueprint for Protection
At Purism, we’ve long argued that privacy is not a luxury — it’s a human right. Our Digital Bill of Rights calls for:
- Right to Protect Personal Data — to own and control the master keys to encrypt all data and communication
- Right not to be Tracked — to opt-in consent for only the minimum personal data necessary to use a service
- Right to Access — not to be discriminated against nor exploited based on personal data
The Italian initiative is a real‑world example of these principles in action. It recognizes that the right to privacy and the right to dignity are inseparable — and that both must be enforced in the digital sphere.
From Policy to Practice
While laws can deter and punish, technology must also be designed to prevent abuse in the first place. That’s why Purism builds privacy into the core of our products:
- No Tracking having a default configuration that fully protects users prevents abuse.
- Personal Protection that keeps sensitive content under your control, not on someone else’s server.
- Ability to Choose What is Shared the ability to revoke access and remove content entirely.
When policy and technology work together, we can close the gap between rights on paper and rights in practice.
A Global Imperative
Italy’s action should inspire other nations to follow suit. The non‑consensual use of personal imagery is not a niche problem — it’s a global one. And it’s not limited to women, though women bear the brunt of the harm.
The message is clear: digital rights are human rights. Protecting them requires both strong laws and technology built with privacy as a default, not an afterthought.
Bottom line: The Italian initiative is more than a local victory — it’s a proof point that when society demands accountability, policy can rise to meet the challenge. At Purism, we’ll keep building the tools that make those rights real, so dignity and privacy are not negotiable — online or off.
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| Librem 5 | In Stock ($799+) 3GB/32GB | 10 business days | |
 | Librem 11 | In Stock ($999+) 8GB/1TB | 10 business days | |
 | Librem 14 | Out of stock | New Version in Development | |
 | Librem Mini | Out of stock | New Version in Development | |
 | Librem Server | In Stock ($2,999+) | 45 business days | |
 | Librem PQC Encryptor | Available Now, contact sales@puri.sm | 90 business days | |
 | Librem PQC Comms Server | Available Now, contact sales@puri.sm | 90 business days |
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