Paris prosecutor opens investigation into libertine site Wyylde over filmed gang rapes in Gironde
The Paris prosecutor's office has opened a preliminary investigation into the libertine social network Wyylde, suspected of being used to recruit men for filmed gang rapes. Nineteen men have been indicted for rape with torture and acts of barbarism.
Investigation launched
The Paris prosecutor's office opened a preliminary investigation into Wyylde on Wednesday 22 July 2026, entrusting it to the Paris research section. The probe was confirmed the following day, 23 July, after Politico first reported it. The charges are extensive: supplying an online platform to enable an illicit transaction in an organized gang, complicity in disseminating recordings of attacks on personal integrity, voluntary abstention from preventing a crime, and participation in a criminal association with a view to preparing an offense punishable by ten years' imprisonment. The investigation will determine whether Wyylde met its legal obligations or acted as an accomplice.
The investigation is opened on charges of supplying an online platform to enable an illicit transaction in an organized gang, complicity in the dissemination of recordings of images relating to the commission of a voluntary attack on the integrity of the person, voluntary abstention from preventing a crime or an offense against the integrity of a person, and participation in a criminal association with a view to preparing an offense punishable by ten years' imprisonment.
The Gironde case
The investigation follows a series of articles by Le Monde in July 2026 that exposed a large-scale case of gang rapes in the libertine milieu. Nineteen men have been indicted for rape with torture and acts of barbarism. The central figure, Christophe B., born in 1969, allegedly used Wyylde to post ads recruiting men to have sex with his successive partners. The victims, whose mental state had deteriorated, were subjected to repeated violent rapes while being filmed. These videos were broadcast live on Wyylde and viewable by the site's users. Bordeaux prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul stated in mid-July that six victims had been identified, five of whom have filed civil suits. The case began in 2023 when one victim filed a complaint against her ex-partner, leading to the discovery of hundreds of videos seized from Christophe B.
Wyylde's platform and reach
Wyylde is a libertine dating and social network operated by Koala Interactive, a company based in Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine) and founded by developer Kais Ahmed. The site claims 7 million registered users and 700,000 daily visitors. It is active in multiple European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium) as well as in Latin America, North America, and Asia. Originally launched in 2004 as Netechangisme.com, it rebranded to Wyylde in 2016. The platform operates on a freemium model: basic access is free, but messaging, chat, photo sharing, and live streaming require a paid subscription. In autumn 2024, Wyylde ran a high-profile advertising campaign in the Paris metro and other French cities, with posters promising users they could "come live what we can't show here." The campaign coincided with the Mazan trial, where Dominique Pélicot used the coco.gg forum to recruit men to rape his wife Gisèle Pélicot.
Legal context and precedents
The coco.gg case has become a reference point for how French courts handle platforms that host illicit content. After the Pélicot trial, the justice system has been scrutinizing sites that facilitate sexual violence. The Wyylde investigation will examine whether the platform's live-streaming features and lack of moderation enabled the crimes. Wyylde has not responded to requests for comment from BFM TV, Politico, or other outlets. The company's website describes its community as "respectful, open and free," but the live streams accessible on the site include dozens of simultaneous exhibitionist or sexual content broadcasts.
| 2004 | Netechangisme.com launched |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Rebranded as Wyylde |
| 2023 | First victim files complaint |
| Autumn 2024 | Metro ad campaign launched |
| 2026-07-17 | Le Monde publishes series on the case |
| 2026-07-22 | Paris prosecutor opens investigation into Wyylde |
| 2026-07-23 | Investigation confirmed publicly |
Sources
- "Viols filmés" en Gironde : enquête préliminaire du parquet de Paris visant le réseau libertin Wyylde
Le Figaro.fr · Jul 23 - " Viols filmés " en Gironde : une enquête ouverte à Paris visant le réseau social libertin Wyylde
SudOuest.fr · Jul 23 - Au cœur d'une vaste affaire de viols avec tortures, le site de libertinage Wyylde fait désormais l'objet d'une enquête préliminaire du parquet de Paris
BFMTV · Jul 23 - Wyylde : c'est quoi ce site Internet aux 5 millions d'utilisateurs, soupçonné d'avoir hébergé des vidéos de viols en direct ?
Le Parisien · Jul 23 - Le parquet de Paris ouvre une enquête sur le site "libertin" Wyylde
POLITICO · Jul 23