Men Are Buying Hacking Tools to Use Against Their Wives and Friends

Why It Matters

The findings highlight a systemic abuse vector on a major messaging platform, pressing regulators to enforce the EU Digital Services Act and compelling Telegram to strengthen content moderation to protect women’s privacy and safety.

Key Takeaways

• 2.8 million messages analyzed across 16 Telegram groups
• Over 24 000 members shared 82 723 abusive files
• Hacking services priced €20‑€50, subscriptions €5 monthly
• Telegram removes millions of items daily via custom AI
• EU may classify Telegram as very large online platform

Pulse Analysis

The AI Forensics report shines a light on a hidden economy flourishing within Telegram’s encrypted channels. By aggregating millions of messages, researchers mapped a network where men trade hacking scripts, stalkerware, and doxing services aimed at women they know personally. The scale is staggering: dozens of abusive images circulate each hour, and the marketplace operates on low‑cost subscriptions, lowering the barrier for intimate‑partner surveillance. This ecosystem thrives on Telegram’s blend of anonymity, rapid content sharing, and limited oversight, creating a fertile ground for gender‑based digital abuse.

Regulators are now confronting the challenge of applying the EU’s Digital Services Act to platforms like Telegram, which boasts over a billion monthly users. While the company claims to delete “millions” of illegal items daily using proprietary AI, the persistence of non‑consensual pornography and hacking offers suggests gaps in detection and enforcement. Classification of Telegram as a "very large online platform" would impose stricter duty‑of‑care obligations, compelling the service to audit its algorithms, improve user reporting mechanisms, and cooperate more closely with law‑enforcement agencies across jurisdictions.

Beyond immediate legal ramifications, the phenomenon underscores broader societal risks. As stalking tools become commoditized, ordinary women face heightened vulnerability to covert surveillance, reputation damage, and financial extortion. Tech firms must balance privacy guarantees with proactive safeguards, while policymakers should consider targeted education campaigns about digital hygiene. Ultimately, curbing this abuse will require coordinated action—robust platform governance, enforceable regulations, and heightened public awareness—to dismantle the covert marketplaces that weaponize personal data against women.