Telegram: AI and Nudification Bots, a Market of Abuse

Telegram and AI: A Monetized Ecosystem of Abuse

An in-depth analysis conducted by AI Forensics has revealed how Telegram has become a fertile ground for digital abuse via artificial intelligence. The study examined 2.8 million messages exchanged in Italian and Spanish groups, highlighting the massive use of nudification bots. These tools transform ordinary photos into synthetic nude images, fueling a lucrative market for non-consensual intimate images.

The report indicates that the word "bot" appears 16,232 times in the analyzed messages, underscoring the popularity of these tools. The messages come from 16 Telegram groups and channels in Italy and Spain. Among the disguised links shared by users, 49.71% led to AI girlfriend generators, while 19.14% pointed to nudification bots. Users also share prompts to manipulate images using commercial chatbots like Grok or Gemini.

Synthetic Content and Monetization

Under the hashtag #PornoTok, users create synthetic content using images of TikTok influencers, including fake audio clips with their voices. AI has lowered the technical barrier to such an extent that the number of potential victims is significantly increasing.

AI-fueled abuse is closely linked to monetization. Archives containing non-consensual intimate images, including material of sexual abuse against minors, are sold for one-time fees ranging from 20 to 50 euros or monthly subscriptions starting at 5 euros. Payments are processed through PayPal, cryptocurrencies, or the Spanish service Bizum. Some users act as affiliates for nudification bots and claim to earn 40% commission.

Telegram: An Unwitting Facilitator?

AI Forensics identified 24,671 active users in groups with up to 27,000 members, with 72% of the Spanish content also appearing in Italian groups. According to the report, Telegram facilitates this ecosystem by design. Premium features allow users to organize channels into folders, bots automate access control, and closed groups reopen within hours under the same name.

In 2024, Telegram generated $292 million from its premium subscriptions, thus becoming a hub for this type of bot since the emergence of the technology. Researchers are calling for Telegram to be classified as a Very Large Online Platform under the Digital Services Act, for nudification tools to be banned throughout the EU, and for the AI Act to include mandatory safeguards against non-consensual synthetic intimate images.