Social media video showing alleged rape of 16-year-old girl sparks backlash in Portugal

A social media video allegedly showing the rape of a 16-year-old girl has shocked Portugal, leading one of the country's MEPs to call on the EU to do more to prevent the dissemination of harmful online material.

Footage of the alleged crime, which took place in February in Lisbon's Loures district, has been viewed 32,000 times on social media.

None of these viewers are thought to have referred the matter to the police, who were informed about the incident by the hospital where the victim went for treatment.

Three suspects, aged between 17 and 19, were arrested but were later released by a court, subject to periodic appearances before the authorities. They were also banned from contacting the victim.

On Tuesday, the Socialist MEP Ana Catarina Mendes told the European Commission about the "disturbing events" shown in the video.

The politician also mentioned alleged cases of upskirting at the University of Porto (FEUP), photographs of which are said to have been shared in a WhatsApp group.

"These horrific acts violate not only fundamental rights, but also raise serious questions about online safety and the protection of people, especially women, in the digital space," she said in a letter signed by the Portuguese Socialist delegation and sent on Tuesday to the EU executive.

In the context of a new law on digital services, which regulates large online platforms, the Portuguese MEP asked what steps the EU was taking to "ensure that social media platforms quickly remove harmful content" and "prevent the dissemination of non-consensual material".

The politician's comments came shortly after hundreds of people demonstrated in Lisbon for tougher laws to be introduced.

A crowd gathered in front of the country's parliament on