Mr Jonuzi took them and posted them on one of the Melbourne "lads" Facebook groups that specialise in, among other things, sharing nude or revealing images of local women. Brandon Cook's post on Facebook Credit:Dan Harrison These groups, which are private and hidden on Facebook, are notoriously hard to get into – to become a member you must be invited by another member. Mr Jonuzi said these groups were full of images of young women. He told Fairfax Media he was trying to gain "respect" by posting the images – and claiming he could get more. "I made it (the post) to gain respect with the community, as a way of saying yes I can get more access to these," he said. There are long comment threads on Facebook from young men requesting invites into the tightly-controlled "lads" groups. Given that, it is not surprising Mr Jonuzi felt a need to show his value to the group he posted to.

But later, he claimed to have taken the pictures not from a female-only group, but from another "lads" group. "The images were initially posted in this girls-only group. I was scrolling down my newsfeed and found it posted in another one of the male groups." Mr Jonuzi downloaded images from this group, the name of which he says he can't recall, and posted it to another group, 'Melbourne lads Vol. 2'. Since he was outed, Mr Jonuzi has been the target of a barrage of criticism – and plenty of online support. His employer terminated him after receiving several complaints. The woman in the photos, who Fairfax Media has spoken to, says their widespread sharing shows the double standards that apply to men and women on the internet: nobody cares when men take naked photos, but when women do they are widely condemned for being "sluts". For his part Mr Jonuzi, who has spoken to the woman, says she'd "be feeling quite annoyed, I guess."

"I dunno, she seems to have taken the situation quite well". It's a small window into the murky online world of "lads" groups. There are several large groups that operate in Melbourne, with the posts a mix of memes, humour, and naked pictures of young women. "It's happening but people aren't really talking about it, and they aren't calling it out when it happens," says Brandon Cook, the man who spotted Mr Jonuzi's original post and reposted it publicly on Tuesday, outing him. "These girls shouldn't have to worry about having their photos taken and shared and made a mockery of." "It's like taking photos of someone through their bedroom window. That's their space and you're trampling all over it."

Do you know more? scoop@theage.com.au On the other side of the equation are pro-body-image groups. Several of these operate in Melbourne allowing young women to post naked or near-naked images and get instant support and affirmation. But, says one group administrator, there is always the very real danger these images could be stolen and posted on "lads" groups. In a public post Mr Jonuzi apologised for invading the female-only Facebook group he initially claimed, but later denied, to have stolen the image from. Lindor Jonuzi apologises. Photo: Facebook Credit:Dan Harrison

"I understand that this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and that such behaviour can easily turn a person who was once loved by everyone into someone whom women or anyone for that matter don't feel safe being around or with". Mr Jonuzi works as a freelance graphic designer. On Wednesday afternoon one of his employers told Fairfax Media his contract had been terminated immediately.