The Reality of the 'Cat Killer Craftsman' Lurking in Encrypted Chats: The International Network Originating from China - The Dark World of Cat Torture Networks Uncovered by BBC

1. Shocking Accusations: "One Every 14 Hours" - The Release of Brutal Videos

A recent BBC investigation has uncovered the full extent of an underground community trading videos of cats and kittens being tortured and killed. In the encrypted messenger infiltrated by the investigation team, a new torture video is uploaded on average every 14 hours, with cryptocurrency being exchanged for viewing access. Moreover, the operators' IPs are scattered across more than a dozen countries, with one of the hubs being in the Chinese-speaking region.Dispatch

2. Business Model: Anonymous Payments Fuel "Custom-Made Torture"

According to CNN-affiliated reports, the criminal groups tailor the abuse of cats to viewer requests, sometimes receiving $20 to $30 per video. Experts point out that sexual sadism and a fetishism known as "crush videos" are underlying factors.WOAI

3. Connection to China: Legal Loopholes as a Breeding Ground

Mainland China lacks comprehensive animal protection laws, and the scope of criminal and administrative penalties is limited. Many of the torture videos uncovered by the BBC are spread from Chinese-speaking groups, with experts warning, "While there is strict censorship on politics and pornography, animal abuse goes unnoticed."WOAIRoya News

4. UK Teen Incident: "Online" Turns "Offline"

In May, in Ruislip, a suburb of London, a 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy tortured and killed two kittens. From the scene, a knife, a burner, and chat history from a network were seized. Both defendants admitted guilt, and authorities are investigating connections to an international network.Roya News

5. Social Media Surge: #StopCatTorture Becomes a Global Trend

Following the reports, on X and Instagram,

• #StopCatTorture

• #ProtectCatsInChina
  spread rapidly. Posts like "Platforms should prioritize ethics over profit" and "Viewing is complicity" recorded tens of thousands of retweets. Volunteers from Feline Guardians expressed concern, noting "a 500% increase in posts in just one year."WOAI

6. Memorial Demonstrations in 23 Cities: What Citizens Are Demanding

On May 18, led by ID AUSA, 23 cities in 13 countries held simultaneous actions. In front of Chinese embassies, banners with photos of the victimized cats were displayed, accompanied by flowers and incense. In San Francisco, former state legislator Paul Fong gave a speech urging, "Do not leave legal loopholes unaddressed."IDA USA

7. Platforms and Law Enforcement: Companies That Act, Companies That Don't

While TikTok promptly deleted torture videos and blocked re-uploads after reports, similar content is still found on X and Telegram. The RSPCA advocates for "both education and legal reform," proposing the inclusion of animal welfare education in school curriculums.GreaterGoodThe Times

8. Experts' Views on "Next Steps"

• International Criminal Assistance: Tracking cryptocurrencies and expediting overseas search warrants

• AI Moderation: Automatic detection of "abuse scenes" through image recognition

• Comprehensive Legislation: Establishing rules in countries without animal protection laws, including China

• Literacy Education: Breaking the negative spiral of supply and demand created by viewing and sharing

9. Conclusion: What We Can Do to Protect "Small Lives"

Faced with horrific images, many feel powerless. However, the fact remains that each click for reporting, signing, donating, and educating shakes the network, supporting legal reforms and crackdowns. Even now, somewhere, a cat is crying out in pain. Not turning away from the reality beyond the screen and continuing to raise our voices is the shortest path to dismantling the "revenue model" of the torture business.

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