"Reporting On Hidden Networks Of Online Abuse" with CNN

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges and methods of reporting on hidden online communities involved in abuse, featuring insights from the CNN investigation team.

This week we spoke to the CNN team behind the investigation into the porn site Motherless. Anonymous accounts. Private chat groups. Hidden online communities. We unpacked how reporters gained access to these spaces, spoke with users sharing intimate imagery of people they knew, and navigated the challenges of reporting in communities designed to stay hidden. It's a conversation about newsroom resources, risk assessment, digital safety, and the realities of reporting where others aren't looking. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on June 11th 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat TW: Discussion of sexual assault and abuse Links: CNN's Motherless Investigation: https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2026/03/world/expose-rape-assault-online-vis-intl/index.html Full As Equals series: https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/asequals/ Pelicot investigation (one piece by CNN of many): https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2024/12/europe/gisele-pelicot-france-case-messages/ NY Times article hiding CSAM…

People in this episode

Host: Charlotte Maher

Guest: CNN team

Topics covered

• online abuse
• investigation
• digital safety
• reporting challenges
• hidden communities
• newsroom resources

Keywords

• online abuse
• Motherless
• CNN investigation
• digital safety
• reporting challenges
• hidden communities
• sexual assault
• newsroom resources

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Motherless, CNN's Motherless Investigation, Full As Equals series, Pelicot investigation, NY Times article hiding CSAM, Berkeley Protocol

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