AI Forensics’ latest investigation reveals large-scale, organized Telegram networks involving nearly 25,000 users across Italy and Spain spreading and monetizing non-consensual intimate images (NCII), including child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Drawing on 2.8 million messages across 16 groups and channels over six weeks, the investigation found:

-Abuse is cross-border: 72% of Spanish content also appeared in Italian groups, with 8% of files circulating in both. -Perpetrators—usually young men—use Telegram’s infrastructure to organize and sell content. -Victims are largely women, often identifiable via shared links. -Content includes CSAM and depictions of incest and rape. -Monetization occurs via €20–€50 one-time fees or €5 per month subscriptions. -Nudifying bots scale synthetic NCII. -Content circulates across platforms, with TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit as key pipelines.

These findings highlight systemic platform failures. Stronger EU action is needed, including designating Telegram a VLOP under the DSA and addressing synthetic abuse in the AI Act.