The 'discord' of online dating: Digital danger for women in Czechia is real

Recent reports reveal a growing threat of online exploitation in Czechia, with a man filming and selling intimate content of Prague dates online.

Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas

Written by Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas Published on 24.01.2025 13:23:00 (updated on 25.01.2025) Reading time: 5 minutes

Recent headlines have exposed a growing threat of online harassment and exploitation in Czechia. From a man arrested for secretly filming women and selling the footage to a black market for stolen intimate images uncovered on social media platforms like Discord and Telegram—a troubling digital safety crisis is emerging.

A predator among us

This week, Prague police issued a call for women who may have been secretly filmed by a 24-year-old foreign national. He recorded sexual encounters with women he met on a dating app without their consent and sold the footage online. When one woman rejected him, he responded with threats of violence, even sending her a photo of a gun and claiming he would enlist friends to harm her.

The man is now in custody. "It was not easy to catch him," said police spokesperson Eva Kropáčová. "He moved from hotel to hotel, making it difficult for investigators." The police tracked the man down in a hotel in Vinohrady. He faces eight years in prison if convicted.

Authorities discovered a vast collection of illicit recordings on his devices, including footage of public masturbation and intimate videos of women unaware they were being recorded. Disturbingly, the man was already convicted of similar crimes in a neighboring country and was hiding in Prague to evade justice. Police are now urging other potential victims to come forward.

Photo composite: Prague Police
Photo composite: Prague Police

"In connection with this case, criminal investigators are asking all women who have had a similar experience with this man, or who were unaware that he filmed them during sexual intercourse, or who experienced any form of sexual pressure, to contact us at line 158. Their testimony and information are crucial for the ongoing investigation. We also ask any witnesses who saw this man masturbating in public to contact us via the emergency line," Kropáčová urged.

The hidden trade of stolen intimate content

The incident reported here is by no means an isolated one. A recent investigation into Czech Discord servers by Page Not Found has uncovered a vast network of stolen and manipulated private materials being traded and sold without consent. Thousands of Czechs and Slovaks have found their private photos and videos circulating on these platforms, many without their knowledge.

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Despite Discord's original intent as a community-focused communication platform, bad actors have turned it into a hub for illicit activities. The scale of the problem highlights the urgent need for stronger regulation and digital protection measures.

"I spent a month and a half inside these online spaces," writes investigative journalist Apolena Rychlíková. "I saw firsthand how private materials are stolen, abused, and monetized with little to no consequences." Many of the graphic materials reviewed by the site, involved underage children. Telegram groups with the same focus and operating similarly have also been uncovered.

What can be done?

Women whose photos have been leaked face relentless bullying, both online and offline. The content often reaches their acquaintances, partners, parents, and employers. Some victims told the Page Not Found server that reporting the stolen content to the police had no effect. “The police made my mental state worse. I tried to report it, but they didn’t help,” said one victim.

Jakub Vinčálek, Chief Commissioner of the Police of the Czech Republic told the site that while taking, distributing or selling explicit photos of people under the age of eighteen is always a crime, the non-consensual handling of nude photos and videos of adults always depends on the degree of harm caused. "These cases more often end up in civil disputes, or are assessed as a misdemeanor," Vinčálek said.

What can the police do in such situations? They receive reports from internet platforms like Telegram, OnlyFans, Facebook, X, and Discord. The police are also actively investigating, with Vinčálek noting success in about half of the cases. The Page Not Found editorial team contacted Discord directly, receiving a generic response advising that any rule violations be reported through their reporting form.

"We assess cases individually. If they involve a crime, such as blackmail or sexual pressure, it's a different matter than when men are simply reselling the material to each other," said the chief commissioner, who noted that this practice is very common.

A 'platform' for public harassment

While law enforcement is tackling individual perpetrators, systemic issues add to the challenge. In Brno, a new public transport campaign aimed at promoting community within the city has sparked outrage. One particular poster, featuring a young man leering behind an unsuspecting woman on a city tram, reads: "We are your dating site."

The feminist collective Sdružena has condemned the campaign, arguing that it trivializes the very real issue of harassment that women and queer individuals face daily.

"This campaign sends the wrong message and makes light of a serious issue," Anežka Michnová told Brněnská Drbna on behalf of Sdružena. "The man is clearly violating the personal space of an unsuspecting woman." The transport company, however, has defended its approach, stating that humor and exaggeration were intentional.

Yet a 2021 survey by the Focus agency found that a third of women face harassment on Czech public transport. In recent years the practice of "upskirting" on Prague's public transport has made headlines, a practice uncomfortably linked to the case of Dominique Pelicot, a French man who was recently convicted of drugging his wife, Gisèle, for years, enabling dozens of men to rape her.

The Czech police urge anyone experiencing online harassment, threats, or the unauthorized sharing of their images to contact the emergency line 158. Authorities recommend saving any evidence of harassment and reporting it immediately.

Additionally, organizations like Konsent provide resources and support for those affected by sexual violence and digital exploitation. The Bílý Kruh Bezpečí group can help you report a crime while offering victim support. Another resource, StopOnline can be used to report cyber abuse of minors.

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Ad reading "We are your dating site." Photo: DPMB

As digital spaces continue to evolve, the need for awareness, legal reform, and personal vigilance has never been greater. These recent cases serve as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking online—and the collective responsibility to create safer environments both in the virtual and physical worlds.

For the 20-year-old victim who reported her online stalker to the Prague police after he threatened her life, the case ended with a somewhat positive outcome. However, for the women whose videos and photos were found on his laptop and cell phone, the nightmare may just be beginning.

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