Exclusive: Telegram's Shadow Market for Non-Consensual Intimate Images Exposed by Researchers

A disturbing underground economy, trading in the privacy and dignity of thousands of women, is flourishing on the encrypted messaging platform Telegram, according to a damning new report published Wednesday. The investigation by digital rights group AI Forensics uncovered a network of channels where intimate images—both real and AI-generated ‘deepfakes’—are shared, sold, and used to coordinate harassment, often with near impunity.

Over a six-week period between December 2025 and February 2026, researchers tracked more than 80,000 files across 16 Spanish and Italian Telegram channels. The study identified nearly 25,000 active users participating in this trade. The content, described as "mostly sexually explicit," consisted of approximately 75% photos and 25% videos, with a small percentage of audio files. Alarmingly, some images depicted teenage girls.

"What we found is an industrial-scale violation of consent," a lead researcher told AFP. "Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram often serve as the source for this 'raw material,' but Telegram has become the central hub for its organization, amplification, and monetization." The report details how channel operators charge subscriptions or one-off fees, creating a financial incentive for the spread of abusive content.

Beyond image sharing, the channels facilitated severe secondary harms. Participants engaged in ‘doxxing’—publishing victims' personal information—and coordinated harassment campaigns. In some of the most extreme exchanges reviewed, members called for sexual violence against the women depicted and discussed child sexual abuse material.

The report sharply criticizes Telegram's moderation as "insufficient and ineffective." Researchers noted that while some groups were shut down during the observation period, they frequently reappeared under the same names within hours. "All the groups were active at the time of our report's publication," AI Forensics confirmed, highlighting a systemic enforcement failure.

This environment, the authors argue, is enabled by Telegram's unique architecture, which pairs strong privacy features like end-to-end encryption with powerful mass-distribution tools. This combination, they warn, "creates conditions where abusive behavior can develop with a relatively high sense of security and impunity."

In response to the findings, AI Forensics is calling on the European Union to formally designate Telegram as a "Very Large Online Platform" (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which would mandate stricter content moderation and transparency requirements.

Telegram, in a statement to AFP, defended its policies, stating that sharing non-consensual intimate imagery is "strictly forbidden" by its terms of service. The platform claimed its "moderation systems are more effective to prevent mass distribution of harmful content than those of the currently designated VLOPs."

The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of legal scrutiny for the platform's leadership. Telegram's co-founder, Pavel Durov, arrested in France in 2024, remains under formal investigation by French authorities over allegations of complicity in allowing illicit transactions and illegal content on the platform, which he denies.

Reactions & Analysis

Elena Rodriguez, Digital Privacy Lawyer: "This report is a watershed moment. It provides concrete evidence of how privacy-focused platforms can be weaponized. The EU must act swiftly under the DSA. Designating Telegram as a VLOP isn't punitive; it's a necessary step for baseline user protection."

Marcus Chen, Cybersecurity Analyst: "The technical analysis here is sound. The 'whack-a-mole' dynamic of shutting down and reopening channels points to a fundamental lack of proactive, AI-driven detection. Relying purely on user reports is inadequate for a platform of this scale and anonymity."

David K. Miller, Tech Policy Advocate: "Enough with the empty promises from Telegram. Their business model thrives on being a lawless zone. Durov's legal troubles are directly connected to this culture of neglect. This isn't about 'free speech'; it's about profiting from the targeted abuse of women and children. Regulators need to bring the hammer down."

Priya Sharma, Social Media Researcher: "The cross-platform nature of this abuse is critical. It shows we cannot view platforms in isolation. A victim's image stolen from Instagram can be monetized on Telegram, with harassment spilling back onto other networks. This requires a coordinated, industry-wide response, not just siloed policies."