Content warning: discussions of rape and assault
70,000 men were uncovered to be in a single group chat on instant messenger platform Telegram, in which they shared suggestions for how to rape, sexually assault, and sedate women, according to a German investigation.
70,000. Of just one group chat within Telegram’s nearly billion users.
Chat participants shared photos and videos of assaults they carried out themselves against wives, partners, sisters, mothers, and other female relatives, while providing suggestions and encouragement for other users to rape and assault. Some advice is directly targeted toward children. Links were also posted to online shops for sexual abusers to purchase sedatives disguised as hair products.
Telegram was created in 2013 by Russian tech billionaire Pavel Durov, also referred to as the ‘Russian Mark Zuckerberg. Durov has fathered over 100 children and is a free speech enthusiast. Since its invention, the app has had a history of being the go-to messaging platform for criminals — as it doesn’t share any data with government agencies.
In August Durov was indicted in France on charges including the spreading of child abuse images, drug trafficking, and failure to comply with law enforcement requests. He has since been placed under court monitoring and is not permitted to leave France. South Korea, Belgium, and other European countries have begun investigating Telegram, as well.
For the 70,000 members of the group chat, most communicate in English and are from around the world.
There is an argument I, and other female-bodied individuals, hear consistently. And it’s exhausting.
“Not all men.”
And yet, it is always a man.
There is a clear violence pattern, whether you look at domestic abuse, mass violence, and both random and targeted attacks.
The question for men voicing “Not all men,” is how does your mentality differ from those committing violence? Maybe your actions are different, but, not assaulting someone isn’t a good thing.
It is normal.
Men today can do better. If they choose to be better. I’ve experienced and witnessed this with my own eyes.
Clearing one’s ego does nothing for those assaulted. Calling out those committing the assaults is a far more effective use of everyone’s time.
Cover photo: The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli, which is believed to explore the vulnerability of the female unconsciousness
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