Outrage in China Over Secretly Filmed Images of Women Shared on Telegram

 

A growing scandal in China has triggered public outrage after reports revealed that thousands of sexually exploitative images and videos of Chinese women were shared through encrypted Telegram groups. The group at the center of the storm, named “MaskPark tree hole forum,” reportedly had over 100,000 anonymous users, both inside and outside China. Members of the chatroom shared private and non-consensual images, including intimate photos of ex-girlfriends, family members, and videos secretly taken in public places such as restrooms using pinhole cameras. Some users went as far as selling objects like incense holders fitted with hidden cameras. Victims said they were shocked to discover their private images being circulated, and some couldn’t retrieve any evidence due to Telegram’s disappearing message settings and screenshot restrictions. The chat groups, which require VPNs to access from within China, exposed deep flaws in the country’s ability to enforce digital privacy laws. Although Chinese law prohibits obscenity and unauthorized use of special surveillance equipment, the penalties for such crimes such as voyeuristic filming are minimal unless the content is categorized as pornographic. Despite Telegram’s statement that such content violates its terms and is actively removed, the scale and nature of abuse have left many women in China feeling vulnerable and unprotected.

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The widespread reaction on Chinese social media has been intense. Hashtags related to the scandal have gained over 270 million views on Weibo. Many users compared the case to South Korea’s notorious “Nth room” scandal, which involved similar abuse via Telegram and led to a 40-year prison sentence for its ringleader. However, Chinese commentators noted that the MaskPark case may be even more concerning because the abuse is less centralized users appear to be sharing such content for personal enjoyment, not for money. Legal experts say this lack of a clear organizer makes it harder to investigate and prosecute. Chinese law does provide punishment for producing and selling obscene material, but non-obscene voyeuristic filming typically results in only a fine or short detention. Furthermore, because Telegram is encrypted and hosted outside of China, authorities face even more barriers in collecting evidence or identifying suspects. Victims feel helpless, lawyers say, because current laws do not specifically protect adult women from the distribution of their intimate images. They argue that the Chinese government needs to introduce new legislation to address visual sexual violence, including voyeurism, non-consensual image sharing, and digital stalking. Experts and rights advocates have called for urgent reforms to increase both the legal protection for victims and regulatory pressure on tech platforms to monitor harmful content more effectively. As of now, while the main MaskPark forum has been shut down, smaller spin-offs still exist and continue to pose a threat. The scandal has served as a wake-up call for many in China about the risks women face in the digital age and the urgent need for stronger, clearer laws and technological safeguards.

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