By Priya Bharadia,Aisha Down
Publication Date: 2026-01-29 11:00:00
Millions of people around the world are creating and sharing deepfake nude photos on secure messaging app Telegram, a Guardian analysis has found, as the proliferation of advanced AI tools industrializes online abuse of women.
The Guardian has identified at least 150 Telegram channels – large encrypted group chats popular for their secure communications – that appear to have users in many countries, from Britain to Brazil, China to Nigeria, Russia to India. Some of them offer “nude” photos or videos for a fee: users can upload a photo of any woman, and the AI will create a video of that woman performing sexual acts. Many more offer a feed of images – of celebrities, social media influencers and everyday women – who have been rendered naked or forced into sexual acts by AI. Followers also use the channels to share tips on available deepfake tools.
While there have long been Telegram channels dedicated to disseminating non-consensual nude images of women, the widespread availability of AI…
