A new study reveals widespread sharing of non-consensual explicit content on Telegram, raising concerns over weak moderation and calls for stricter regulation.
Researchers have uncovered widespread trading of non-consensual intimate images of women on Telegram, involving tens of thousands of users. A study by AI Forensics found nearly 25,000 active participants across Spanish and Italian groups, sharing explicit photos and videos, often in exchange for money. The findings were based on analysis of over 80,000 files shared between December 2025 and February 2026.
The report revealed that most content was sexually explicit, including real images and AI-generated “deepfakes,” with some involving teenage girls. Users were also found engaging in harmful activities such as doxxing and coordinated harassment. Much of the material originated from platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat before being redistributed on Telegram.
Researchers criticised Telegram’s moderation, noting that banned groups often reappeared within hours. They called on the European Union to classify the platform as a “very large online platform” under the Digital Services Act for stricter oversight. Telegram said such content violates its policies and defended its moderation systems, while its co-founder Pavel Durov remains under investigation in France.
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