BERLIN (AP) — A disturbing case has emerged in Germany, where prosecutors allege that a network of men operating on Telegram referred to themselves as the "German driving school for experts." However, their primary purpose was not to teach driving, but rather to boast about committing rapes and to exchange tips on how to drug women. Investigators have uncovered posts in group chats that derogatorily referred to women as "cars," sedatives as "fuel," and sexual assault as "driving," while victims were callously labeled as "dead pigs."
The investigation into this predator network, predominantly comprising Chinese men targeting mainly Chinese women in Germany, has turned up years of offensive communications in nearly two dozen Telegram groups. Authorities have successfully convicted three alleged key members on charges of rape and other offenses, with a fourth suspect currently undergoing trial in Berlin.
Frankfurt chief prosecutor Dominik Mies characterized the perpetrators as particularly ruthless, exhibiting an alarming objectification of their victims and meticulous planning of their crimes. Despite the gravity of the situation, much remains undisclosed, including the number of related attacks and how the network maintained its operations across the numerous chats, some of which boasted membership in the tens of thousands. Additionally, the links of these chats to a broader investigation across Europe and the Americas into drug-facilitated sexual assaults by online misogynistic groups remain unclear.
Within Germany, under privacy laws that limit prosecutors' public disclosures, the case has received less media attention than one might expect. Nevertheless, members of the Chinese community in Germany, particularly women, have rallied to support the unnamed victims during the court proceedings. One supporter, Fu Xiao, traveled over 500 kilometers (310 miles) to attend the trial, expressing the anger felt at the blatant misogyny exhibited by these groups. In contrast, state media in China has covered the case extensively, although discussions on Chinese-language social media platforms have been partially censored. Certain terms have been flagged and deleted, while others, using euphemisms such as "date rape," have managed to avoid censorship.
The cases have drawn comparisons to a high-profile French trial involving Gisèle Pelicot, who suffered decades of abuse at the hands of her husband and strangers. This scenario spurred a significant public discussion about rape culture in France, which echoes in the German context as Judge Markus Koppenleitner pointedly noted that the issue transcends national boundaries.
While German authorities have been busy investigating this predator network, parallels abound in other countries. In Los Angeles, for example, a suspect was linked to the drug-facilitated sexual assaults of three women after allegedly acquiring drugs from a Chinese national in Germany. Authorities in the Netherlands recently made arrests in a similar case, involving suspects who utilized social media groups for coordinating assaults.
The ongoing examination of this case raises critical questions about Telegram's role as a platform for such criminal activity. Despite Telegram's stated prohibition of sexual violence in its terms of service, the platform has been flagged for failing to effectively prevent and mitigate such activities. In 2024, the founder of Telegram faced allegations of facilitating illicit activities, including drug trafficking, which he attributed to rapid user growth overwhelming the platform's monitoring capabilities.
As the investigation progresses, the German network's existence highlights significant concerns about the misuse of technology for predatory behavior. Court documents reveal that some of these Telegram groups date back to at least 2020, with one key suspect, Dapeng Z., having been apprehended in 2024 after shifting from targeting acquaintances to initiating contact with strangers online. Following his arrest, Dapeng Z. received a 14-year sentence for aggravated rape and other assaults, although he has since appealed.
The ongoing courtroom dramas continue, with another key defendant, Zhiting S., awaiting a verdict in Berlin. He faces serious charges, including sexual assault and possessing images of child sexual abuse. Allegedly, Zhiting S. offered instructions on how to sedate women for assaults, demonstrating a calculated approach to these heinous crimes.
This case reveals the complexities of modern sexual violence, showing a troubling convergence of digital platforms, misogyny, and organized criminal activity. Authorities remain vigilant, as the investigation continues, suggesting that more arrests and victims may yet come to light.
