Chinese Women Struggle for Justice After Telegram Channel Shares Non-Consensual Content

A Telegram channel sharing non-consensual sexual content of Chinese women has exposed gaps in China’s legal protections. Though the channel was removed, similar ones continue to surface. Victims face challenges reporting cases, while activists demand a specific law to address online sexual abuse and hold platforms accountable.

A Telegram channel named MaskPark, which hosted revenge porn and non-consensual videos of Chinese women, has brought renewed attention to the lack of legal protection for victims of online sexual abuse in China. The channel, which attracted hundreds of thousands of subscribers, was shut down, but similar groups continue to appear.

Despite growing public outrage, there remains no specific law in China targeting the distribution of non-consensual sexual content. Victims like Ms. D, the only known woman to come forward, found her intimate images shared on the channel. When she approached police, the content had already been deleted, and legal experts say there's no clear path for such cases under current Chinese law.

Activists argue that charges like “disseminating obscene materials” are too broad and inconsistently enforced. While this charge has been used against women writing erotic fiction, it has failed to adequately address more serious violations like covert filming or deepfake pornography. In one case, a man received only administrative detention for creating and distributing deepfake content using a woman's public photos.

The encrypted nature of Telegram, blocked in China but accessible via VPN, complicates efforts to trace and prosecute offenders. Telegram said it removed the MaskPark channel and is monitoring for similar content. However, other channels continue to emerge, some openly mocking attempts to shut them down.

Activists are now pushing for a targeted law that addresses the full cycle of harm—from creation to distribution—and places responsibility on platforms. They also emphasize the need for international cooperation and victim support services.

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Comparisons have been drawn to South Korea’s “Nth Room” scandal, which led to legal reform. Activists hope China follows a similar path to ensure justice for victims and curb the spread of exploitative content online.