A months-long investigation by CNN has uncovered a disturbing web of online communities where users allegedly share advice and materials on how to sexually abuse women.
The networks, described by experts as an “online rape academy,” are said to operate across websites and encrypted messaging platforms, where members exchange tips on how to drug victims and carry out assaults without being detected.
According to the report, some of the groups encouraged users to upload videos of assaults and discuss methods of evading law enforcement. In several cases, victims were allegedly drugged and abused while unconscious.
The findings have sparked concern among lawmakers and advocacy groups, who warn that digital platforms are increasingly being used to facilitate coordinated sexual violence.
The investigation also points to links between these online spaces and previous criminal cases, including a widely reported case in France where a man was accused of repeatedly drugging his wife and enabling her assault by others.
Authorities in different countries have identified and prosecuted individuals connected to similar networks, although enforcement remains difficult due to anonymity, encrypted communication, and underreporting of such crimes.
Following the report, Telegram said content promoting sexual violence violates its policies and is removed when discovered. Some of the exposed groups have reportedly been shut down, though similar communities are said to continue emerging on other platforms.
Experts say the revelations highlight the growing challenge of policing online spaces, as perpetrators adapt quickly and move across platforms using coded language to avoid detection.
The development has renewed calls for stronger regulation, improved monitoring systems, and closer collaboration between technology companies and law enforcement agencies.
