Unwanted surveillance of Chinese women in Telegram peeping tom clubs prompts calls for official intervention

In a case that has sparked public outcry, an anonymous stranger informed Ms. D, a woman in her 20s, that her ex-boyfriend had leaked her private photos and intimate videos on a Chinese language Telegram channel with over 100,000 subscribers. This channel, known as the "Mask Park Treehole Forum," is just one of many similar channels that have been unearthed over the past decade, particularly in East Asia and the world.

Ms. D, who has sought help from a support organization regarding the accusation of distributing her personal photos and videos, is not alone. Numerous Chinese women, including minors and relatives of the perpetrators, have had their photos and videos posted on the channel and were often insulted in explicit ways.

The channel was disbanded after Ms. D exposed it on social media, but concerns remain about the pervasiveness of this issue. Chinese women from various professions are urging authorities to take action against the Mask Park Telegram channel, warning of a larger, ongoing problem.

Investigating such cases can be challenging due to the platform being blocked in China, requiring cross-border cooperation for further investigation. Telegram, however, announced last September that it would provide authorities with IP addresses and phone numbers of users who violate its rules in response to "valid legal requests."

Producing, selling, or disseminating pornographic material for profit in China can result in a life sentence, while non-profit activities can lead to a maximum sentence of two years. Yet, Chinese police can be slow to investigate explicit images shared on legal platforms, as evidenced by Ms. C's case where she reported her ex-husband leaking nudes multiple times without initial action.

Some online investigators, like Franny, a 33-year-old female lawyer in Shenzhen, have been working tirelessly to uncover the truth. She has been investigating the network pro bono for several hours daily since the Mask Park case emerged. However, she and others have received anonymous threats of doxxing and retribution if they continue digging into the case.

Lawyers interviewed suggest that those involved in the Telegram rooms could face charges of insult and defamation. Yet, Zhang, a criminal defense lawyer in Beijing, warns that closing just one Mask Park might not stop the perpetrators from creating similar channels.

It's unclear whether Chinese authorities are currently investigating online voyeur rooms like the Mask Park Telegram channel. Some Chinese authorities have taken down Ms. D's exposés and posts from other campaigners, and have redirected searches for "Mask Park" away from the sex exploitation scandal. This raises questions about the commitment of the authorities to address this issue and protect the privacy and safety of Chinese women.