Decades of image-based sexual abuse: How perpetrators evade tech platforms and the authorities
The article examines how image based sexual abuse has evolved over decades, from early internet forums and IRC chatrooms to modern AI generated deepfakes and encrypted messaging apps. It focuses on how perpetrators continuously adapt to avoid detection by authorities and technology platforms, exploiting slow regulation, anonymous online tools, cryptocurrency payments, and weak enforcement systems.
The story follows several survivors, including women targeted with AI generated explicit deepfakes after fake modelling auditions. Victims describe long lasting trauma, harassment, blackmail, and fear, while perpetrators often remain anonymous and continue operating despite police reports and platform takedowns. Researchers from the National University of Singapore found that technology facilitated sexual violence remains widespread among university students, with image based abuse staying consistently high in recent years.
The article also explains how online abuse networks repeatedly rebuild themselves after enforcement actions. Telegram groups, online forums, and social media accounts distributing non consensual sexual content often reappear under new names or domains after being removed. Administrators use cryptocurrency, digital wallets, mirror accounts, and viral sharing tactics to keep communities active while avoiding platform moderation systems.
A major theme is that AI has accelerated the scale and accessibility of abuse. Deepfake tools now allow ordinary users to create fake nude images and videos quickly and cheaply. Researchers warn that while public attention originally focused on political misinformation, the dominant real world harms of deepfakes increasingly involve sexual exploitation, harassment, sextortion, and emotional abuse targeting private individuals.
The article argues that authorities and tech companies struggle to respond effectively because laws, moderation systems, and reporting tools lag behind rapidly changing online abuse methods. Survivors and experts criticize platform reporting systems as inconsistent, slow, and often retraumatizing for victims. Advocacy groups call for stronger laws, faster removals, cross platform enforcement, and better accountability for tech companies hosting or enabling abusive content.
