Chi Odia Paga (COP)

Chi Odia Paga (COP) is a social-impact legaltech firm established to combat online hate. Founded in Milan in 2018 by serial tech entrepreneur Francesco Inguscio, the startup emerged from his venture accelerator, Nuvolab. Inguscio, with over a decade of experience supporting startups in Italy and the US, launched COP as his own venture to apply his expertise to a meaningful social cause. The initiative was backed by an initial €200,000 seed investment from the impact investing fund Oltre Venture and received advisory from the legaltech team at LT42.

The company provides a comprehensive suite of services to individuals, associations, and insurance companies targeted by online hate crimes such as cyberbullying, revenge porn, defamation, and hate speech. Its business model centers on democratizing access to legal defense. Initially, users can submit their case through an online platform and receive a free, automated legal assessment powered by an AI algorithm trained on over 1,500 legal sentences. This preliminary feedback helps the user understand if they have a legally actionable case. If the case is viable, COP offers integrated services that include sending formal warnings (diffide) to perpetrators, legally preserving digital evidence for court, and removing harmful content. The company offers its services on a contingent fee basis, covering the upfront legal costs and receiving payment only if a settlement is reached. Services can also be purchased individually.

COP operates as a 'denuncia as a service' platform, aiming to simplify the process of legal recourse for victims who might otherwise be deterred by the complexity and cost of the justice system. Beyond individual legal support, the firm is committed to prevention and education, launching crowdfunding campaigns and forming partnerships with associations to foster a safer online environment. This strategy includes building a 'Network of Good' (Rete del Bene) to unite various stakeholders against online hate. The platform has gained significant traction, receiving support from the Italian Ministry for Innovation and Digitalization and the patronage of the Milan Bar Association. It also won the 2020 Open-F@b Call4Ideas competition, leading to a collaboration with BNP Paribas Cardif to integrate its services into insurance products.

Keywords: legaltech, online hate, cyberbullying defense, hate speech, online harassment, legal services, digital forensics, content removal, revenge porn legal action, defamation law, social impact startup, Francesco Inguscio, Nuvolab, Oltre Venture, online safety, legal protection, victim support, anti-harassment, digital law, civil rights tech, contingent fee legal, AI in law