Embedded Files
Actors behind the defamation campaign
Actors behind the defamation campaign
This section outlines the main actors involved in the sustained defamation campaign against Prof. Carla Rossi, a philologist and manuscript scholar whose academic work has been cited and reviewed for over three decades by leading experts in Europe and beyond. A full dossier, including documentation, screenshots, and verified communications, is publicly available at:
This section outlines the main actors involved in the sustained defamation campaign against Prof. Carla Rossi, a philologist and manuscript scholar whose academic work has been cited and reviewed for over three decades by leading experts in Europe and beyond. A full dossier, including documentation, screenshots, and verified communications, is publicly available at:
1. The International Society for the History of Miniature Painting (SISM – Naples)
1. The International Society for the History of Miniature Painting (SISM – Naples)
Between 2022 and 2023, the name and infrastructure of the Society were used to disseminate defamatory emails, including one dated 1 April 2023 sent to all members via its internal mailing list. The message was crafted to appear as if issued by the Society’s president, yet no clarification or formal denial was ever circulated. When formally requested to prove it had filed a cybercrime report, the Society failed to produce any documentation, despite private assurances to Prof. Rossi that such action would be taken.
Between 2022 and 2023, the name and infrastructure of the Society were used to disseminate defamatory emails, including one dated 1 April 2023 sent to all members via its internal mailing list. The message was crafted to appear as if issued by the Society’s president, yet no clarification or formal denial was ever circulated. When formally requested to prove it had filed a cybercrime report, the Society failed to produce any documentation, despite private assurances to Prof. Rossi that such action would be taken.
2. A former faculty member of the University of Zurich
2. A former faculty member of the University of Zurich
A retired academic affiliated with the Society exploited mailing lists and internal contacts to disseminate defamatory messages, often using misleading sender identities. These operations, which occurred without institutional authorisation, targeted Prof. Rossi and her collaborators. Full evidence, including legal analyses and email records, is referenced in the legal proceedings currently underway.
A retired academic affiliated with the Society exploited mailing lists and internal contacts to disseminate defamatory messages, often using misleading sender identities. These operations, which occurred without institutional authorisation, targeted Prof. Rossi and her collaborators. Full evidence, including legal analyses and email records, is referenced in the legal proceedings currently underway.
📧 Extracts and forensic metadata available in the public archive.
📧 Extracts and forensic metadata available in the public archive.
3. Peter Kidd
3. Peter Kidd
Peter Kidd is a British manuscript consultant and blogger, formerly employed on a temporary basis as a cataloguer at the British Library. He currently operates without any institutional affiliation. Through his blog and frequent collaborations with auction houses and private collectors, he has promoted and described numerous leaves excised from dismembered Books of Hours, Psalters, and other medieval codices. His writings often disregard the ethical dimensions of manuscript dismemberment, focusing instead on the commercial traceability and resale value of individual folios.
Peter Kidd is a British manuscript consultant and blogger, formerly employed on a temporary basis as a cataloguer at the British Library. He currently operates without any institutional affiliation. Through his blog and frequent collaborations with auction houses and private collectors, he has promoted and described numerous leaves excised from dismembered Books of Hours, Psalters, and other medieval codices. His writings often disregard the ethical dimensions of manuscript dismemberment, focusing instead on the commercial traceability and resale value of individual folios.
In a now-archived online statement, Kidd openly declared that the dismemberment of illuminated codices is "perfectly legal"—a position that, while legally contestable in many jurisdictions, reveals a troubling alignment with the antiquarian market and an indifference to the cultural damage inflicted.
In a now-archived online statement, Kidd openly declared that the dismemberment of illuminated codices is "perfectly legal"—a position that, while legally contestable in many jurisdictions, reveals a troubling alignment with the antiquarian market and an indifference to the cultural damage inflicted.
Since December 2022, Kidd has used his blog as a platform for a sustained campaign of defamatory content directed at Prof. Carla Rossi, a scholar internationally recognised for her work on the digital reconstruction of dismembered manuscripts and her principled stance against the trade in detached leaves. His first attacks followed within days of Prof. Rossi’s public appeal, which denounced the online sale of illuminated folios and coincided with her formal report to the Carabinieri’s Art Crimes Unit in Italy.
Since December 2022, Kidd has used his blog as a platform for a sustained campaign of defamatory content directed at Prof. Carla Rossi, a scholar internationally recognised for her work on the digital reconstruction of dismembered manuscripts and her principled stance against the trade in detached leaves. His first attacks followed within days of Prof. Rossi’s public appeal, which denounced the online sale of illuminated folios and coincided with her formal report to the Carabinieri’s Art Crimes Unit in Italy.
To date, Kidd has published more than twenty targeted blog posts maligning Prof. Rossi, her research centre (RECEPTIO), her academic collaborators, and even her legal representative. This orchestrated defamation has had severe and well-documented consequences:
To date, Kidd has published more than twenty targeted blog posts maligning Prof. Rossi, her research centre (RECEPTIO), her academic collaborators, and even her legal representative. This orchestrated defamation has had severe and well-documented consequences:
- Fake obituaries falsely announcing Prof. Rossi’s death were published online.
- Anonymous threats—including death threats—were sent by email to Prof. Rossi and her colleagues.
- Defamatory emails were disseminated via mailing lists associated with academic societies, in breach of data protection regulations.
- Journalists were approached and supplied with misleading or demonstrably false material, which resulted in the publication of smear articles.
In his blog posts, Kidd repeatedly denies Prof. Rossi’s academic qualifications, casts doubt on the legitimacy of her institutions, and insinuates scientific misconduct without any substantiated evidence. These actions are not legitimate critique: they constitute reputational sabotage, sustained over time, and grounded in personal grievance.
In his blog posts, Kidd repeatedly denies Prof. Rossi’s academic qualifications, casts doubt on the legitimacy of her institutions, and insinuates scientific misconduct without any substantiated evidence. These actions are not legitimate critique: they constitute reputational sabotage, sustained over time, and grounded in personal grievance.
It is also of material relevance that Peter Kidd has personally authored descriptions and commercial listings for several manuscript leaves that Prof. Rossi has since reconstructed in her scholarly publications—work that challenges the very dismemberments he helped legitimise. The conflict of interest is clear, and the retaliatory dimension of his campaign against Prof. Rossi cannot be overlooked.
It is also of material relevance that Peter Kidd has personally authored descriptions and commercial listings for several manuscript leaves that Prof. Rossi has since reconstructed in her scholarly publications—work that challenges the very dismemberments he helped legitimise. The conflict of interest is clear, and the retaliatory dimension of his campaign against Prof. Rossi cannot be overlooked.
The facts are verifiable, the consequences measurable, and the implications for academic freedom and heritage protection deeply concerning.
The facts are verifiable, the consequences measurable, and the implications for academic freedom and heritage protection deeply concerning.
https://www.oprom.eu/who-is-peter-kidd
https://www.isfida.eu/who-is-peter-kidd
4. Other individuals involved in the defamatory campaign
4. Other individuals involved in the defamatory campaign
The ReceptioGate affair exposed the coordinated participation of individuals from both academic and media circles. These include:
The ReceptioGate affair exposed the coordinated participation of individuals from both academic and media circles. These include:
- Peter Burger (journalist), who publicly repeated unverified claims;
- Sanne Wellen, involved in earlier online disparagement;
- Marina Bernasconi, associated with actions aimed at discrediting RECEPTIO;
- Lisa Fagin Davis (Fragmentarium), who publicly questioned the integrity of the centre’s reconstruction work;
- The anonymous Twitter account @WhiteKnightti was actively used to circulate defamatory and harassing content targeting Prof. Rossi throughout 2023. The account was abruptly deleted shortly after legal proceedings were initiated before the Civil Court of Rome. Despite its apparent anonymity, technical analysis allowed the identification of the IP address linked to the individual operating the account. The digital traces and deleted posts have been preserved and are part of the evidentiary material submitted to the competent authorities.
- Several contributors to Fragmentarium and affiliated media outlets who echoed false narratives without verification.
Each of these names is documented through public statements, tweets, email evidence or published material, all archived or recorded prior to deletion.
Each of these names is documented through public statements, tweets, email evidence or published material, all archived or recorded prior to deletion.
5. Threats, Forgeries, and Digital Harassment
5. Threats, Forgeries, and Digital Harassment
The campaign extended well beyond academic disagreement. Between late 2022 and mid-2023, Prof. Rossi and several colleagues received death threats, anonymous hate mail, and digital harassment. False obituaries in her name were published on Swiss platforms. These actions were reported to legal authorities and remain part of the official record.
The campaign extended well beyond academic disagreement. Between late 2022 and mid-2023, Prof. Rossi and several colleagues received death threats, anonymous hate mail, and digital harassment. False obituaries in her name were published on Swiss platforms. These actions were reported to legal authorities and remain part of the official record.
🕯️ Documented examples and legal filings are available via the links above.
🕯️ Documented examples and legal filings are available via the links above.
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