Telegram rife with AI-generated non-consensual sexual images and pornography
29/01/2026 | The Guardian
An analysis by The Guardian has revealed that millions of people are using the encrypted messaging app Telegram to create and share AI-generated non-consensual sexual images and pornography. The investigation identified at least 150 channels operating globally, including in the UK, Brazil, Nigeria, India, Russia, and China. These groups allow users to "nudify" images of celebrities, influencers, and private individuals, often for a fee. Some services offer sophisticated AI tools that can produce videos of specific women performing sexual acts, with one advertisement promoting a neural network designed to do anything with a person that you cannot do in real life.
The analysis highlights how the accessibility of advanced AI has industrialised the non-consensual sexual abuse of women and girls. In various regions, users were found sharing deepfakes of personal acquaintances, such as former partners or friends, alongside stolen intimate photos. While Telegram's terms of service prohibit illegal pornographic content, the scale of these groups suggests widespread circumvention of platform rules.
Telegram stated that deepfake pornography and its creation tools are explicitly forbidden and routinely removed. The company reported that moderators, assisted by AI monitoring tools, removed over 952,000 pieces of offending material in 2025. Despite these enforcement efforts, the sheer volume of channels and the ability for users to share technical tips on deepfake generation continue to pose a significant challenge for platform safety.
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