Telegram as a Digital Enclave? A Comparative Study of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in China and South Korea
Encrypted messaging platforms have evolved into critical loci for Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). By conducting a comparative analysis of the Maskpark incident (2025) in China and the Nth Room case (2020) in South Korea, this article examines whether Telegram constitutes a ‘digital enclave’ for sexual crimes. In China, Telegram operates as a semi-clandestine arena on the periphery of state control, accessible only via circumvention tools yet paradoxically tethered to domestic payment systems. Conversely, South Korea’s Nth Room scandal precipitated a massive public outcry, catalysing significant legislative and law enforcement reforms. Drawing on diverse data sources, this study utilises the ‘digital enclave’ concept to analyse how platform affordances intersect with state governance strategies and gendered power dynamics. Comparative results indicate that while encryption shields perpetrators in both nations, state and civil society responses diverge significantly. The article argues that Telegram is not a neutral artifact but is deeply embedded within distinct national contexts, serving as either an ungovernable enclave or a contested battleground for regulation. This discussion offers new perspectives on the intersection of platform political economy and transnational digital governance.
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