A months-long investigation by CNN has revealed the existence of disturbing online communities where men are allegedly exchanging guidance and explicit material on how to sexually assault women.
Experts and lawmakers have described these networks as an “online rape academy,” citing the organised nature of the content being shared.
The investigation found that these groups operate across various websites and encrypted messaging services, where participants allegedly discuss methods of drugging women—often intimate partners—and carrying out sexual assaults without their awareness.
In some instances, members are said to share advice on avoiding detection and evading law enforcement.
Certain chatrooms, reportedly hosted on platforms such as Telegram, were also found to encourage the circulation of assault videos.
According to the findings, victims in multiple cases were drugged without their knowledge and assaulted while unconscious, highlighting the severity of the alleged abuse taking place within these spaces.
Investigators also linked the emergence of such communities to earlier criminal prosecutions, including a widely reported case in France in which a man was accused of repeatedly drugging his wife and facilitating assaults by others. That case is believed to have shed light on how digital forums can be used to coordinate and normalise sexual violence.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that some individuals associated with these networks have been arrested and convicted, with several receiving prison sentences. However, authorities acknowledge that tackling such activity remains challenging due to the anonymity of users, the use of encrypted platforms, and the significant underreporting of drug-facilitated sexual abuse.
In response to the revelations, technology companies have stated that they are taking action against such content. Telegram, for example, said material promoting sexual violence violates its rules and is removed when detected. While some of the identified groups have been shut down, reports indicate that similar communities continue to appear across different corners of the internet.
