SynopsisTelegram has long been known as a place where pirated films, books, newspaper PDFs, exam material and banned content resurface quickly after being taken down elsewhere. Now, the platform is also being used for sharing non-consensual intimate images of women and photos taken without permission, and creating private groups where members pay to watch, circulate or discuss such content.A Rs 99 UPI (Unified Payments Interface) payment gives you entry into the world of online peep-shows, an underground economy of private Telegram groups where women’s images, including non-consensual photos and candid pictures shot in public, are shared. Over the past two weeks, ET reviewed several such groups, and at least 70 posts across Reddit, Instagram, and other social media platforms, which are the hunting grounds for customers for these( Originally published on Jul 07, 2026 )Now Playing
ETtech in-depth: Pay Rs 99 via UPI, get access to Telegram’s privacy abuse economy - The Economic Times
Telegram has long been known as a place where pirated films, books, newspaper PDFs, exam material and banned content resurface quickly after being taken down elsewhere. Now, the platform is also being used for sharing non-consensual intimate images of women and photos taken without permission, and creating private groups where members pay to watch, circulate or discuss such content.
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