Silvia Semenzin

Semenzin studied a BA in Political Science at the University of Padua, with an Erasmus exchange at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM).{{Cite web |last=University of Padua |author-link=University of Padua |date=April 4, 2012 |title=Ranking list of Erasmus Program Mobility Grants 2012/2013, 1st turn - Political Science |url=https://www.unipd.it/sites/unipd.it/files/gradscipolI_201213.pdf}} She studied an MA in Social Communication at the same UCM, and later a joint PhD in Digital Sociology by both the University of Milan and the University of Turin.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-16 |title=CRO Cyber Rights Organization, la prima organizzazione europea che difende i diritti umani nel web fondata da due under 35 |url=https://www.skuola.net/news/cro-la-prima-organizzazione-europea-diritti-umani-web.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Skuola.net - Portale per Studenti: Materiali, Appunti e Notizie |language=it}} Her PhD explored the blockchain imaginaries, examining power dynamics and algorithmic discrimination in digitally-mediated contexts.{{Cite web |title=Publications - Silvia Semenzin Profile |url=https://p2pmodels.eu/silvia-semenzin/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=P2P Models |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=NASP: Network for the Advancement of Social and Political studies - Silvia Semenzin |url=https://nasp.eu/people/students/students-cohorts/silvia-semenzin.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=nasp.eu |language=en-GB}}

During her PhD, she worked for the University of Trento researching cybercrime.{{Cite book |year=2017 |title=La cyber-criminalità contro il commercio in Italia |trans-title=Cyber crime against trade in Italy |url=https://iris.unitn.it/retrieve/handle/11572/239429/272797/Intellegit%20-%20La%20cyber-criminalit%E0%20contro%20il%20commercio%20in%20Italia.pdf |publisher=Università degli Studi di Trento |isbn=978-88-94891-01-0}} She also collaborated with the ERC grant team of Stefania Milan at the University of Amsterdam,{{Cite web |title=team – DATACTIVE |url=https://data-activism.net/team/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |language=en-US}} with data-tracking of Pornhub.{{Cite web |title=Experience Summary & Farewells |url=https://pornhub.tracking.exposed/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=pornhub.tracking.exposed |language=en-us}} In this period she researched image-based sexual abuse in Telegram groups,{{Cite journal |last1=Semenzin |first1=Silvia |last2=Bainotti |first2=Lucia |date=Oct 2020 |title=The Use of Telegram for Non-Consensual Dissemination of Intimate Images: Gendered Affordances and the Construction of Masculinities |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2056305120984453 |journal=Social Media + Society |language=en |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=205630512098445 |doi=10.1177/2056305120984453 |issn=2056-3051|hdl=2434/828495 |hdl-access=free }} which drew international attention.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-23 |title="Uscite le minorenni" |url=https://www.wired.it/internet/web/2019/01/23/telegram-chat-stupro-virtuale-minori-stalking-revenge-porn/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Wired Italia |language=it-IT}}{{Cite web |last=Kraus |first=Rachel |date=2020-10-29 |title=Telegram's massive revenge porn problem has made these women's lives hell |url=https://mashable.com/article/nudes-revenge-porn-crime-telegram |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Mashable |language=en}}

After her PhD, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the UCM, in the ERC grant team of Samer Hassan, and as a lecturer at the University of Amsterdam.{{Cite web |title=Silvia Semenzin |url=https://www.journalismfestival.com/speaker/silvia-semenzin |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Festival Internazionale del Giornalismo |language=en-US}} She later obtained a Juan de la Cierva post-doc scholarship to continue her work at UCM.{{Cite web |last=State Research Agency |author-link=State Research Agency |date=2021 |title=Resolución de la presidencia de la agencia estatal de investigación, por la que se resuelve el procedimiento de concesión de las ayudas juan de la cierva-formación, convocatoria 2021 |trans-title=Resolution of the Presidency of the Spanish National Research Agency, resolving the procedure for granting Juan de la Cierva Training Aid, Call 2021 |url=https://www.aei.gob.es/sites/default/files/convocatory_info/2022-11/Resolucion%20Concedidos_FJC2021_firmada.pdf |publisher=Spanish National Research Agency (Agencia Estatal de Investigación)}} In this period, she has continued her research on the social aspects of blockchain technologies, while trying to raise awareness on its dangers.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-21 |title=De la moneda social y el blockchain: ¿podrían ayudarnos a acabar con la corrupción y la especulación? |url=https://www.lasexta.com/programas/sexta-columna/noticias/moneda-social-blockchain-que-podrian-ayudarnos-acabar-corrupcion-especulacion_2022012161eb20bd9890160001c19968.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=www.lasexta.com |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-21 |title=Evolución de las criptomonedas: cuánto habríamos ganado invirtiendo 50 euros en 2011 y cuánto en 2021 |url=https://www.lasexta.com/programas/sexta-columna/noticias/evolucion-criptomonedas-cuanto-habriamos-ganado-invirtiendo-50-euros-2011-cuanto-2021_2022012161eb1f08393752000185bc74.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=www.lasexta.com |language=es}}

While doing research on image-based sexual abuse, she engaged in advocacy on the topic. In November 2018, she was promoter and spokesperson, with the aid of Amnesty International and other organizations, of the Italian national campaign “Intimità Violata” to ask for a law against image-based sexual abuse (revenge porn).{{Cite web |title=Intimità violata: dalla Marca la petizione per chiedere una legge contro il "revenge porn" |url=https://www.trevisotoday.it/video/semenzin-intimita-violata-petizione-contro-revenge-porn-2018.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=TrevisoToday |language=it}} An online petition gathered 80,000 signatories in two weeks,{{Cite web |date=2018-12-10 |title=Revenge porn, Boldrini accoglie petizione su Change.org e annuncia proposta di legge bipartisan |url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/12/10/news/petizione_revenge_porn_proposta_legge_boldrini-213911374/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=la Repubblica |language=it}} and gathered ample media attention.{{Cite web |title="Basta diffondere immagini intime per vendetta": da Montebelluna la raccolta firme lanciata da Silvia |url=https://www.oggitreviso.it/node/202701 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=www.oggitreviso.it |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-01-11 |title=Revenge porn in Sardegna, l'orrenda chat che umilia le ragazze denunciata da Insieme in Rete |url=https://www.giornalettismo.com/revenge-porn-chat-sardegna/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Giornalettismo |language=it-IT}}{{Cite web |date=2018-12-04 |title="Basta vendette sessuali e donne umiliate in chat": la sfida di una ragazza di Montebelluna |url=https://tribunatreviso.gelocal.it/treviso/cronaca/2018/12/04/news/basta-vendette-sessuali-e-donne-umiliate-in-chat-la-sfida-di-una-ragazza-di-montebelluna-1.17528898 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Tribuna di Treviso |language=it}} The campaign attracted the support of politicians like former President of the Parliament Laura Boldrini,{{Cite web |date=2018-11-30 |title=Petizione dei record per una legge sul revenge porn: "Spesso le vittime sono inconsapevoli" {{!}} VIDEO |url=https://www.giornalettismo.com/revenge-porn-petizione-silvia-semenzin-video/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Giornalettismo |language=it-IT}} especially after the dismissal of the Tiziana Cantone suicide case.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-20 |title=Il revenge porn è molto più diffuso di quanto pensiamo. E una legge non basta a combatterlo. |url=https://thevision.com/attualita/legge-revenge-porn/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=THE VISION |language=it-IT}} A few months later, in April 2019 the Italian Parliament passed a law criminalizing image-based sexual abuse, rendering the campaign a success.

Since then, she has become an advocate on online gender-related violence matters,{{Cite web |title="Lotto contro la violenza sui social" |url=https://nuvola.corriere.it/2021/11/12/silvia-sociologa-digitale-lotto-contro-la-violenza-sulle-donne-sui-social/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=nuvola.corriere.it |language=it}} regularly speaking on international media like RTVE,{{Citation |title=Gen Playz - Filtraciones sexuales en redes |date=2022-09-13 |url=https://www.rtve.es/play/videos/gen-playz/filtraciones-sexuales-redes/6685297/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |language=es}} Vanity Fair, Wired,{{Cite web |date=2022-04-05 |title=In Spagna un algoritmo valuta il rischio di violenza contro le donne. Ma ha fallito |url=https://www.wired.it/article/donne-violenza-spagna-algoritmo-rischio/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Wired Italia |language=it-IT}} GQ,{{Cite web |date=2021-04-08 |title=Che cosa passa per la testa di un uomo che fa revenge porn |url=https://www.gqitalia.it/news/article/che-cosa-passa-per-la-testa-di-un-uomo-che-fa-revenge-porn |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=GQ Italia |language=it-IT}} ANSA,{{Cite web |date=2023-08-25 |title=Digital Service Act, la sociologa: "Molto da fare contro la violenza online" - Italia - Ansa.it |url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/videogallery/italia/2023/08/25/digital-service-act-la-sociologa-molto-da-fare-contro-la-violenza-online_01a8cd4b-e816-4bfe-a157-01392d52a36b.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Agenzia ANSA |language=it}} RAC 1,{{Cite web |date=Aug 12, 2023 |title=Els perills del 'deep fake': "Ser dona ja és una amenaça per a la teva intimitat" |url=https://www.rac1.cat/via-lliure/20230812/112260/perills-deep-fake-dona-amenaca-teva-intimitat.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=RAC1 |language=ca}} and others.{{Cite web |last=Semenzin |first=Silvia |date=2023-12-14 |title=Regulators are Failing to Combat Revenge Porn |url=https://cepa.org/article/regulators-are-failing-to-combat-revenge-porn/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=CEPA |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last1=von Hodenberg |first1=Anna-Lena |last2=Semenzin |first2=Silvia |last3=Mclaren |first3=Shanley Clemot |date=Apr 14, 2022 |title=The human cost of the EU's fragmented approach to tackling image-based sexual abuse |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/opinion/the-human-cost-of-the-eus-fragmented-approach-to-tackling-image-based-sexual-abuse/ |work=Euractiv}}{{Cite web |title=Press |url=https://www.silviasemenzin.it/press |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Silvia Semenzin}} She has spoken on the topic in multiple international forums, including two TED Talks,{{Citation |last=Semenzin |first=Silvia |title=Is digital activism possible? |date=2021-09-17 |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/silvia_semenzin_puo_esistere_un_attivismo_digitale |access-date=2024-03-27}}{{Citation |title=Tecnologia vs. Umanità {{!}} Silvia Semenzin {{!}} TEDxLakeComo | date=4 December 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLlAtbmTsIc |access-date=2024-03-27 |language=en}} Amnesty International,{{Cite web |date=2019-06-07 |title=Io non odio, e tu? |url=https://www.amnesty.it/io-non-odio-e-tu/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Amnesty International Italia |language=it-IT}} Save the Children,{{Cite web |date=2024-02-13 |title=Il rapporto di Save the Children: il 65% degli adolescenti dichiara di essersi sentito controllato dal partner almeno una volta |url=https://www.lastampa.it/cronaca/2024/02/13/news/rapporto_violenze_save_the_children-14066341/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=La Stampa |language=it}} the EU,{{Cite web |title=Towards a European Policy against Online Image-Based Sexual Abuse |url=https://www.cais-research.de/ags/towards-a-european-policy-against-online-image-based-sexual-abuse/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=CAIS |language=de-DE}} or the global summit on the topic.{{Cite web |title="I finally knew I was in the right place" – notes from the first-ever Global Summit on Image-Based Sexual Abuse |url=https://www.panoramaglobal.org/blog/notes-from-the-global-summit-on-image-based-sexual-abuse |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=www.panoramaglobal.org}} She also played a key role in implementing a law against online sexual violence in Ecuador.{{Cite web |title=Conoce a Isabella Nuques, activista que impulsó la Ley de Violencia Digital en Ecuador |url=https://sprinforma.mx/ver/8m/conoce-a-isabella-nuques-activista-que-impulso-la-ley-de-violencia-digital-en-ecuador |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=sprinforma.mx}}{{Cite thesis |title=Análisis de la Ley de Violencia Digital en Ecuador: una mirada a las experiencias de la violencia machista en el ámbito digital |url=http://repositorio.uasb.edu.ec/handle/10644/9046 |publisher=Quito, EC: Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, Sede Ecuador |date=2022 |degree=masterThesis |first=Jhanela Anahí |last=Durán González|hdl=10644/9046 }} She wrote a book on the topic,{{Cite web |date=2021-07-19 |title="Il revenge porn è la trasposizione digitale della cultura dello stupro" |url=https://lespresso.it/c/attualita/2021/7/19/il-revenge-porn-e-la-trasposizione-digitale-della-cultura-dello-stupro/12232 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=lespresso.it |language=it}}{{Cite book |last1=Bainotti |first1=Lucia |title=Donne tutte puttane: Revenge porn e maschilità egemone |last2=Semenzin |first2=Silvia |date=2021 |publisher=Durango edizioni |isbn=978-88-99476-49-6 |series=La città e la metropoli |location=Andria}} and in line with her appeals for better education on these issues,{{Cite web |date=2021-06-05 |title=Abuse and anger: inside the online groups spreading stolen, sexual images |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/long-reads/article/3135803/abuse-and-anger-inside-online-groups-spreading-stolen-sexual |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-07-24 |title=Il Revenge Porn non è né vendetta né pornografia: è violenza di genere contro le donne |url=https://www.fanpage.it/politica/il-revenge-porn-non-e-ne-vendetta-ne-pornografia-e-violenza-di-genere-contro-le-donne/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Fanpage |language=it}} she co-founded an NGO on sex education.{{Cite web |title=chi siamo |url=https://www.virginandmartyr.com/chi-siamo |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Virgin & Martyr |language=it-IT}}

Concerning her advocacy of digital rights, she sits on the board of the Dutch Cyber Rights Organization,{{Cite web |title=Cyber Rights Organization |url=https://cyberights.org/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Cyber Rights Organization |language=en-GB}} which has advocated for non-discrimination clauses in the EU Artificial Intelligence Act.{{Cite web |title=What is 'revenge porn' and are there laws to protect you? Here's what you need to know |url=https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/asequals/asequals/revenge-porn-protect-yourself-as-equals-intl-cmd/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=CNN |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Besides, she has worked as a journalist for several digital newspapers, in Italy,{{Cite web |date=2017-12-07 |title=Silvia Semenzin {{!}} Il Caffè Geopolitico |url=https://ilcaffegeopolitico.net/author/silvia-semenzin |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=ilcaffegeopolitico.net |language=it-IT}} Spain,{{Cite web |date=2018-03-14 |title=Elecciones italianas 2018: una análisis con la mente fría |url=https://vozparalela.es/author/silviasemenzin |access-date=2024-03-27 |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2015-06-19 |title=Silvia Semenzin – ROOSTERGNN |url=https://archives.rgnn.org/es/author/silvia-semenzin/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |language=es}} and an US online debate platform.{{Cite web |title=TEDxLakeComo {{!}} TED |url=https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/32781 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=www.ted.com}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Bainotti |first1=Lucia |title=Donne tutte puttane: revenge porn e maschilità egemone |last2=Semenzin |first2=Silvia |date=2021 |publisher=Durango edizioni |isbn=978-88-99476-49-6 |series=La città e la metropoli |location=Andria}}

• {{Cite journal |last1=Rama |first1=Ilir |last2=Bainotti |first2=Lucia |last3=Gandini |first3=Alessandro |last4=Giorgi |first4=Giulia |last5=Semenzin |first5=Silvia |last6=Agosti |first6=Claudio |last7=Corona |first7=Giulia |last8=Romano |first8=Salvatore |date=2023-04-03 |title=The platformization of gender and sexual identities: an algorithmic analysis of Pornhub |url=https://docta.ucm.es/bitstreams/da65e1c5-a729-4d10-9114-6eb09a624e41/download |journal=Porn Studies |language=en |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=154–173 |doi=10.1080/23268743.2022.2066566 |issn=2326-8743}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Semenzin |first1=Silvia |last2=Rozas |first2=David |last3=Hassan |first3=Samer |date=2022-07-26 |title=Blockchain-based application at a governmental level: disruption or illusion? The case of Estonia |url=https://academic.oup.com/policyandsociety/article/41/3/386/6566828 |journal=Policy and Society |language=en |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=386–401 |doi=10.1093/polsoc/puac014 |issn=1449-4035|doi-access=free }}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Semenzin |first1=Silvia |last2=Gandini |first2=Alessandro |date=2021-02-01 |title=Automating Trust with the Blockchain? A Critical Investigation of "Blockchain 2.0" Cultures |url=https://online.ucpress.edu/gp/article/2/1/24912/117666/Automating-Trust-with-the-Blockchain-A-Critical |journal=Global Perspectives |language=en |volume=2 |issue=1 |doi=10.1525/gp.2021.24912|hdl=2434/854985 |hdl-access=free }}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Semenzin |first1=Silvia |last2=Bainotti |first2=Lucia |date=2020 |title=The Use of Telegram for Non-Consensual Dissemination of Intimate Images: Gendered Affordances and the Construction of Masculinities |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2056305120984453 |journal=Social Media + Society |language=en |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=205630512098445 |doi=10.1177/2056305120984453 |issn=2056-3051|hdl=2434/828495 |hdl-access=free }}

• Online gender-based violence
• Revenge porn

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://www.silviasemenzin.it/ Silvia Semenzin webpage]
• [https://www.silviasemenzin.it/press Silvia Semenzin press appearances]
• [https://www.instagram.com/silviasemenzin_/ Silvia Semenzin Instagram]

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Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Academics from Veneto

Category:Italian women academics

Category:Italian activists

Category:University of Milan alumni

Category:University of Turin alumni

Category:Complutense University of Madrid alumni

Category:Academic staff of the Complutense University of Madrid

Category:Internet activists

Category:21st-century Italian social scientists

Category:University of Padua alumni

Category:Italian women social scientists