A 66-year-old janitor in Rome, Italy, has been cleared of sexual assault charges after a judge ruled that a brief encounter with a high school student did not demonstrate "libidinous intent." The incident, which occurred last year, involved the janitor allegedly placing his hand inside the student's underwear and briefly lifting her while she adjusted her trousers. The janitor claimed the action was a joke. The judge's decision, based on the brevity of the contact (estimated between five and ten seconds), has sparked widespread condemnation and protests across Italy.
The student, who has recently turned 18, offered a different account of the event. She alleges the janitor approached her from behind without warning, placed his hands down her pants and inside her underwear, groped her, and then lifted her, causing discomfort. She insists the action was not a joke. Her lawyer has announced plans to appeal the court's decision.
The controversial ruling has ignited a firestorm on social media, with thousands participating in an online protest. Users are posting videos of themselves touching intimate body parts for ten seconds, accompanied by the hashtags "#10seconds" and "#quickgrope," to highlight the perceived inadequacy of the judge's reasoning. The campaign, initiated by actor and comedian Paolo Camilli, aims to challenge the notion that brief contact cannot constitute harassment.
