Pelicot rape case website investigated after returning under new name
French authorities are investigating a website previously used to facilitate the mass rape of Giselle Pelicot, which has resurfaced under a new name after being shut down in 2024. Dominic Pelicot used the platform, originally called Coco, to recruit strangers to assault his sedated wife, for which he received a 20-year prison sentence. Officials and women's rights groups are now calling for broader action against such platforms.
Summary
French authorities have launched an investigation into a website that played a central role in one of France's most shocking criminal cases — the mass rape of Giselle Pelicot. Her husband, Dominic Pelicot, used a platform originally known as Coco to recruit dozens of strangers to sexually assault his wife while she was heavily sedated and unable to consent. Dominic Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison following the case.
The platform Coco was shut down in 2024 after being linked not only to the Pelicot case but also to other serious crimes including rape, child abuse, and murder. However, the site appears to have returned online under a new name, prompting renewed concern from law enforcement and advocacy groups.
Officials and women's rights organizations are now calling for wider, more systemic action, warning that these types of online platforms do not merely host isolated criminal activity but actively enable the formation of organized communities centered around abuse. The reemergence of the site highlights the ongoing challenge authorities face in permanently shutting down platforms linked to serious criminal behavior.
Key Insights
- Dominic Pelicot used a website called Coco to systematically recruit dozens of strangers to assault his wife Giselle while she was heavily sedated, illustrating how digital platforms can be weaponized to organize large-scale sexual violence.
- The platform Coco was shut down in 2024 after being linked to multiple serious crimes including rape, child abuse, and murder, suggesting a broad pattern of criminal use beyond the Pelicot case.
- Despite being shut down in 2024, the site has reportedly returned online under a new name, demonstrating the difficulty authorities face in permanently eliminating criminal platforms.
- Dominic Pelicot received a 20-year prison sentence for his role in organizing the mass rape of his wife, marking a significant legal outcome in the case.
- Officials and women's rights groups are warning that these platforms go beyond hosting individual criminal acts — they create organized communities built around abuse, calling for broader systemic action.
Topics
Full transcript available for MurmurCast members
Sign Up to Access