Inside A Global Sexual Abuse Network: Secret Groups And 62 Million-User Platform
A chilling investigation by CNN has uncovered what experts are calling a global “rape academy” — a network of online groups where users allegedly discussed, enabled, and even monetised sexual violence against women, often targeting their own partners.
CNN journalists discovered multiple private groups on platforms like Telegram where members openly exchanged information about drugging victims, shared non-consensual content, and promoted paid livestreams.
These groups operated under anonymity, with users believing they would not be caught.
One such group, reportedly named “Zzz,” had around 1,000 members before it was shut down.
Inside, users discussed so-called “sleeping liquids” — substances claimed to render victims unconscious, and shared instructions on how to use them.
According to CNN, some users charged as little as $20 (paid via cryptocurrency) to access livestreams showing abuse.
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In several cases, viewers allegedly directed the perpetrators during these broadcasts. The content was often filmed without the victims’ knowledge, sometimes while they were asleep or incapacitated.
The investigation also linked such activities to fringe websites like Motherless, which hosts extreme user-generated content under loosely regulated categories.
The total user base/traffic of the website Motherless reportedly had around 62 million users/visits in a month (as cited in the report).
A disturbing pattern also emerged that the victims were usually known to the perpetrators — wives, partners, or acquaintances. In one case, a man identified as “Piotr” allegedly admitted to repeatedly drugging his wife and sharing details online.
The findings mirror real cases, including that of Gisèle Pelicot in France.
In that case, her husband, Dominique Pelicot, was convicted after orchestrating years of abuse, inviting dozens of men he met online to assault his wife while she was unconscious. Reports indicated that more than 50 men were ultimately convicted in connection with the case.
Similar patterns were also reported in Asia through forums like “Sammyboy,” where users allegedly coordinated abuse involving their partners.
Investigations point to activity across multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Separate reports have identified at least 16 Telegram groups with tens of thousands of users sharing non-consensual material.
Experts say these networks represent a dangerous intersection of technology and crime. As CNN noted, encrypted platforms and anonymity are being exploited to create structured, profit-driven ecosystems of abuse.
Authorities in several countries have been alerted, and investigations are ongoing. The report has intensified global calls for stricter regulation of online platforms and stronger protections for victims.
