Outrage and Online Protests Erupt in Italy Over Controversial 10-Second Groping Ruling

Italians are sharing unsettling videos on social media using the hashtags #10secondi and "Palpata breve" (meaning "a brief groping") in protest of the acquittal of a school janitor accused of groping a 17-year-old girl. The judges cleared the janitor of sexual assault, stating that the groping only lasted about ten seconds and his hand did not linger for long. In response, thousands of people, including actor Paolo Camilli, have posted videos on Instagram and TikTok, silently touching themselves for 10 seconds to demonstrate how long that time can feel.