Police are investigating after photos taken of unsuspecting women and girls in public on Chicago’s Southeast Side were posted to a porn site.
“They stalked me, they filmed me, they put my image on a pornographic website, not only without my consent, without my knowledge,” said victim Giuliana Ramirez.
In a community alert issued by Ald. John Pope (4th Ward), officials say that photos and videos were taken of women and girls in the East Side neighborhood without them knowing and were then posted to a pornographic website.
Ramirez said she was walking out of the public library branch on 106th Street when she saw a man in sunglasses holding a phone up in the entryway, who she suspected was taking pictures of her. After seeing the community alert, she said she logged onto the website and saw herself in a gallery of photos where users were being asked to rate her body.
“I was extremely violated sexually, and that’s how I feel,” she said. “I feel like I had a sex crime committed against me.”
Another woman says her 16-year-old daughter was also a victim.
“She was upset. She was crying,” said Andrea Correa of her teen daughter. “Somebody invaded her privacy.”
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Both victims said they filed a police report following the incident, but say they were told no crime was committed because the women and girls pictured are clothed.
“They said that there was nothing they could because my daughter was fully clothed,” Correa said. “Something needs to happen now to prevent any other future actions.”
Chicago police said they are investigating the incidents, but no one was in custody as of Friday evening.
The alert advises victims to file a police report and contact the website via email to “demand that the material be immediately removed.”
“You should state that the photos/videos are of a minor or of yourself and have been taken and posted without your knowledge and consent,” the alert said. “Also state that you have contacted your local police department and filed a report.”
Officials also recommend saving the email and a copy of the website content for any possible criminal prosecution.
