Men film themselves sexually abusing sedated women and share it with other men online. Why?

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · May 31, 2026 · 975 words · By Emma Quilty

Gender-based violence Platform Accountability The Manosphere

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What to know about Gender-based violence

The article discusses the prevalence of organized online communities, specifically on platforms like Telegram, that facilitate the sharing of non-consensual sexual abuse material. It examines the motivations of perpetrators, the role of platform infrastructure, and recent legal efforts to hold both individuals and tech executives accountable.

Propaganda risk 30%

Claims checked 14

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Right coverage

Left14%

Center86%

Right0%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

The world watched on in horror in 2024 as Dominque Pelicot and 50 other men were tried in a French court for repeatedly drugging and raping Gisele Pelicot over almost a decade.

Why it matters

While such horrific abuse can feel far away and rare, it’s more widespread than many realise.

Common ground

There are private online communities with thousands of members all over the world, including in Australia, trading in video and photos of sedated women being abused.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Gender-based violence story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Groups can have up to 200,000 members?
How does this story connect Gender-based violence with Platform Accountability over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/men-film-themselves-sexually-abusing-sedated-women-a…

analyticsAnalysis

30%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 14 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5

schedule Pending 4

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

schedule

Claim 1: “Groups can have up to 200,000 members.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 2: “emerging legislation such as the Take It Down Law in the United States that came into effect in May”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 3: “private pages and group chats being uncovered in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, and Poland.”

SINGLE SOURCE

One web search result from Mirage News mentions private online communities in Australia and worldwide trading in videos of sedated women, but the specific list of countries (Canada, Ireland, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, Poland) is not fully corroborated across multiple independent sources in the provided evidence.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — While such horrific abuse can feel far away and rare, it's more widespread than many realise. There are private online communities with thousands of members all over the world, including in Australia,…
https://www.miragenews.com/men-share-videos-of-sedated-women…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Police allege thousands of files of child abuse material were uncovered in initial investigations of electronic devices seized. On Thursday, six search warrants were conducted across Sydney, including…
https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/nsw/sydney-police-cri…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — We are giving you the daily coverage of an Australian Drag and Drive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLKBmZJSJI8

schedule

Claim 4: “In 2024, Telegram’s founder was arrested and charged in France for allowing illicit behaviour on the platform, including the distribution of child sexual abuse material.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 5: “Telegram has its own internal crypto system, which members can spend through affiliate links.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results regarding Telegram's internal crypto system used via affiliate links in this context.

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Claim 6: “All of them were found guilty.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results explicitly state that Dominique Pelicot was convicted along with 50 other men.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Coco, also variously referred to as Coco Chat or Cocoland (previously accessible under the name coco.fr, then coco.gg) is a French-language online chat website without registration and free to access …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coco_(website)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gisèle Pelicot (French: [ʒizɛl peliko] ; née Guillou, born 7 December 1952) is a French woman who became a feminist icon in 2024, when she waived her right to anonymity as the victim in a multiple rap…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gisèle_Pelicot

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Over a period of nine years, from July 2011 to October 2020, Dominique Pelicot, a man from Mazan in south-eastern France, repeatedly drugged and raped his wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and invited male strang…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelicot_rape_case

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 7: “Dominque Pelicot and 50 other men were tried in a French court for repeatedly drugging and raping Gisele Pelicot over almost a decade.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple web search results confirm that Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men were tried for the repeated drugging and rape of Gisele Pelicot over a period of nearly a decade (2011-2020).

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+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 8: “One report from the New York Times reported China-based group chats with as many as 100,000 members.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided web search results for the New York Times and China do not mention group chats with 100,000 members related to this specific activity.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Companies in many places might hope that paying money could spike a negative news report or perhaps generate a positive one. But in China ...
https://www.facebook.com/TheEconomist/posts/companies-in-man…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 11, 2026 · OpenAI's latest threat report reveals something extraordinary — China-linked operators allegedly used ChatGPT itself to run covert influence ...
https://www.facebook.com/firstpostin/posts/openais-latest-th…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 25, 2022 · The police are buying technology that harnesses vast surveillance data to predict crime and protest before they happen.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/25/technology/china-surveill…

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Claim 9: “A study of Telegram networks across Italy and Spain showed groups with nearly 25,000 users.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web search results confirm an investigation into a network of nearly 25,000 users across Italy and Spain spreading non-consensual sexual images on Telegram.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — She coordinated the AI Forensics investigation that revealed a network of nearly 25,000 users across Italy and Spain spreading non-consensual sexual images ...
https://europeancorrespondent.com/en/r/the-ecosystem-behind-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr 9, 2026 · A large-scale network of just under 25,000 people spread nonconsensual sexual material and child pornography throughout Spain and Italy on the ...
https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/04/08/telegram-hosts-vast…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jul 12, 2022 · They are followed by RT en español, elnacionalcat, and La Razón, with nearly 25,000, just under 18,000, and almost 10,000 posts, respectively.
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202207.0179/v1/download

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Claim 10: “In April, France launched an investigation into the website Pelicot used to recruit dozens of strangers to rape his wife.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web search results (The Manila Times and another news source) confirm that France launched a probe in April into the website 'Coco' used by Dominique Pelicot to recruit strangers.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In France, both rape and marital rape are illegal. In recent years there has been increase of reported rape cases in France.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_in_France

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 11: “During the trial, police uncovered 20,000 videos and photos of his wife’s abuse, recorded by Pelicot himself.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that police discovered more than 20,000 images and videos of the abuse on Dominique Pelicot's devices.

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 12: “The Telegram group CNN reported on had more than 1,000 members with some videos posted in the group amassing over 50,000 views.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results to confirm the specific member count or view count of the CNN-reported group.

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Claim 13: “A recent investigation by CNN revealed there are thousands-strong groups on messaging app Telegram who share tactics and videos assaulting and raping their girlfriends and wives.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results confirm a CNN investigation into 'sleep' subcommunities and Telegram channels where men shared tips, images, and videos on how to drug and incapacitate women.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Telegram Messenger application has been blocked by multiple countries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_Telegram

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pavel Valeryevich Durov (Russian: Павел Валерьевич Дуров; born 10 October 1984) is a technology entrepreneur. He is best known as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Telegram. Durov was born in the S…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Durov

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Telegram (also known as Telegram Messenger) is a cloud-based, cross-platform social media and instant messaging (IM) service. It launched for iOS on 14 August 2013 and Android on 20 October 2013. It a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegram_(software)

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 14: “the Pelicot case in France prompted the arrest of the creators of the website Dominique used to recruit others to assault his wife.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.