NAPLES, ITALY - Tiziana Cantone hung herself Tuesday, September 13th in her Aunt's house. The young woman had a tape released of her performing sexual acts. Only a few of her close friends had access to the tape, but it was unfortunately released without Cantone's consent. From that point, she started to spiral downhill. In an attempt to get away from the chaos, she moved to a different town, got a new job and even changed her name, all of which were unsuccessful.
The video received over one million views and citizens made t-shirts, phone cases and other novelty items with Cantone's face on them. Hiding from the public clearly was not an effective way out. She decided to take the matter to court and attempted to make her case - "a right to be forgotten" - online. In Italy, that is when search engines remove anything that appears to be excessive, or inadequate. Condone won the case but she still had to pay over 20,000 Euros for legal fees, and her tape was republished and copied.
Her death was a traumatic event for many people within the country of Italy. With the sorrow comes anger from many people. People with high status like Walter Caputo, a Turin city councillor for the Democratic Party of Prime Minister. Shamed Tiziana for using even sending a video to her friends as a way to gain attention. And how " she certainly wasn't a saint."
Italy is one of the holiest and oldest countries of the world and I'm sure certain sexual acts are frowned upon, but not having sympathy for a poor girl for taking her life because the justice system failed her just isn't right. Why should one have to pay legal fees to have non-consented videos deleted? If a woman wants to film herself and feels confident, who are we to cast judgment on them? If they aren't hurting anyone why should society be so cruel? If this were a guy, and his sex tape was released would it gain that much publicity? The sad thing is, Tiziana Cantone isn't the first one to be ridiculed for this and sadly she won't be the last.
