"Rape Academies Online": Disturbing Increase in Views

A CNN investigation reveals the existence of online communities promoting the sexual abuse of women under the influence of substances. These communities function as "digital rape academies," where members exchange tips and encourage each other.

The investigation, part of CNN's "As Equals" series, identified an extensive network on platforms such as Motherless.com, where videos of unconscious or sleeping women garner millions of views. Users employ hashtags such as #passedout and #eyecheck, and some videos show men lifting women's eyelids to confirm their state.

Within these communities, members exchange "tips" and offer substances to drug women. Some even advertise paid abuse livestreams.

The case of Dominique Pelicot in 2024, where he orchestrated the rape of his wife Gisèle through an online chatroom, caused shock. However, the phenomenon appears to be continuing and evolving.

Experts emphasize that these "digital communities" function as training and validation grounds for abusive behaviors.