An investigation into the use of online platforms to promote sexual violence against women has uncovered alarming findings. Dominique Pelicot's use of the now-defunct website Coco.fr to recruit men to rape his then-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, sheds light on the dark side of unmoderated online spaces.
Described as a 'murder weapon' by Gisèle Pelicot's lawyer, Antoine Camus, Coco.fr was a breeding ground for discussions that encouraged sexual abuse. While the site has been shut down, the investigation revealed the existence of several French websites where similar disturbing activities are still taking place.
One such website, identified as a potential successor to Coco.fr, was scrutinized by investigators. By extracting 6,000 messages from 30 chatrooms over a 24-hour period, clear parallels were drawn between the recruitment tactics used by Pelicot and the content found on the new site.
The messages on the new site were rife with derogatory and objectifying language towards women. Users openly offered to trade their partners and shared intimate images of women without consent, perpetuating a culture of sexual violence and exploitation.
Local residents in the town of Mazan, where Dominique Pelicot committed his crimes, expressed concerns about the proliferation of such websites. Nedeljka Macan highlighted the insidious nature of these platforms, noting that they thrive on sensationalizing incidents like the one involving Gisèle Pelicot for their own gain.
The rise of these websites not only poses a threat to the safety and dignity of women but also underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations and enforcement measures to combat online platforms that perpetuate violence and exploitation.
