Ethical Hacking News
A Global Epidemic of Online Harassment: The Dark Side of Telegram
Thousands of men are sharing nonconsensual images of women and girls, buying spyware, and engaging in doxing and sexual abuse on Telegram. A new report by AI Forensics reveals the extent of this problem and highlights the need for greater regulation and oversight of online platforms like Telegram to prevent further exploitation.
Thousands of men share nonconsensual images of women and girls, buy spyware, and engage in doxing and sexual abuse on Telegram. A new report by AI Forensics found dozens of groups and channels advertising and selling hacking and surveillance services targeting women and girls. Telegram communities shared over 82,723 images, videos, and audio files, mostly targeting celebrities and influencers, but also victimizing known women. The platform should be subject to stricter regulation and classified as a "very large online platform" under Europe's online safety rules. Telegram removes millions of pieces of content per day using custom AI tools, but critics argue more needs to be done to address the issue.
In recent months, a disturbing trend has emerged on the popular messaging app Telegram, with thousands of men sharing nonconsensual images of women and girls, buying spyware, and engaging in doxing and sexual abuse. According to a new report by the European nonprofit group AI Forensics, the communities involved are extensive, with dozens of groups and channels advertising and selling hacking and surveillance services that can be used to harass friends, wives, and girlfriends.
The research team, led by Silvia Semenzin, analyzed nearly 2.8 million messages sent across 16 Italian and Spanish Telegram communities that regularly post abusive content targeting women and girls. Over the course of six weeks, more than 24,000 members took part in posting 82,723 images, videos, and audio files. The majority of these posts target celebrities and influencers, but men in the groups also frequently victimize women they know.
The findings suggest that Telegram, which has over 1 billion monthly active users, should be subject to stricter regulation and classified as a "very large online platform" under Europe's online safety rules. Semenzin notes that "most victims are ordinary women who sometimes don't even know that their pictures are shared or manipulated in these types of channels." She also highlights the importance of Telegram removing such content and taking action against those responsible.
The study reveals that the communities involved are involved in extensive trading, selling, and promotion of a huge variety of abusive content, including nonconsensual intimate images of women, so-called nudifying services, and folders of images that sellers claim include child sexual abuse material and depictions of incest and rape. The researchers found that many posts reference access to phone gallery and extraction of photos and videos, as well as anonymous social media hacking.
One translated post on Telegram titled "Professional hacking on commission" claimed to be able to give customers "access to phone gallery and extraction of photos and videos," as well as "anonymous social media hacking." Another message says: "I hack and recover any type of social media service. I can spy on your partner's account. Send me a private message." These types of services are often sold for a price, with some channels offering access to Telegram groups for around €20.
The AI Forensics report also highlights the scale of this problem, with dozens of abusive images shared every hour in some Spanish-language groups. The researchers saw some content appear in both Spanish and Italian groups, indicating that this issue is not limited to a single region or language.
Telegram has responded to these allegations by stating that it removes "millions" of pieces of content per day using custom AI tools and has policies in Europe that do not allow the promotion of violence, illegal sexual content including nonconsensual imagery, and other content such as doxing and selling illegal goods and services. However, critics argue that more needs to be done to address this issue.
The implications of these findings are significant, highlighting the need for greater regulation and oversight of online platforms like Telegram. As Semenzin notes, "any platform or app that can be used to harm women and girls will be," and Telegram's large user base and anonymity features make it an attractive target for those seeking to exploit others.
In recent years, Telegram has faced criticism for its role in facilitating the spread of terrorist, sexual abuse, and cybercrime materials. The company's founder, Pavel Durov, has consistently denied allegations that he is involved in criminal activity, but his involvement with Russian authorities has raised concerns about his commitment to free speech.
The study also highlights the impact of this issue on victims, who often suffer long-lasting emotional trauma as a result of being targeted by these online harassment campaigns. Semenzin notes that "the majority of this violence is directed towards people who the perpetrators know," emphasizing the need for greater support and resources for those affected.
As Telegram continues to navigate its complex relationships with governments and law enforcement agencies, it remains unclear whether more can be done to address this issue. However, one thing is clear: the spread of online harassment on platforms like Telegram poses a significant threat to women's safety and security worldwide.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/A-Global-Epidemic-of-Online-Harassment-The-Dark-Side-of-Telegram-ehn.shtml
https://www.wired.com/story/men-are-buying-hacking-tools-to-use-against-their-wives-and-friends/
https://foorilla.com/media/items/men-are-buying-hacking-tools-to-use-against-their-wives-and-friends-369824/
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50166147
Published: Wed Apr 8 03:46:35 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
