Mexico's DLR Collective battles digital sexual violence with hacking and justice

A small but determined group of women is fighting back against digital sexual violence in Mexico. The DLR Collective, founded in 2019 by Andy Torres, works to remove explicit content shared online without consent. Their efforts come as victims continue to face harassment, emotional trauma, and a justice system that often fails them. Torres first took action after a friend became a victim of digital abuse. Using her hacking skills, she began helping others remove explicit images and videos from the internet. Today, the collective is made up of nine women—all survivors of digital violence themselves.

Every day, they receive around 80 reports of non-consensual sexual content. Over six years, they have built two lists naming over 540 alleged aggressors in Mexico. Yet, once an image is leaked, it can never be fully erased from the internet, leaving victims in constant distress.

In 2024, the group exposed the 'Sierra XXX Group,' a network of 140 Oaxacan officials sharing explicit content of women from the Mixe highlands. The case highlighted how digital violence can destroy lives—many victims have dropped out of school, lost jobs, or withdrawn from society. Meanwhile, the National Guard’s cyber unit has secured convictions in cases of online child trafficking and abuse material, showing some progress in holding offenders accountable.

Victims still face major obstacles, including threats, revictimisation, and inconsistent legal processes. Reporting cybercrimes often leads to further trauma rather than justice. The DLR Collective continues to push for change, supporting survivors while pressuring authorities to take digital violence seriously. Their work has exposed high-profile cases and provided a lifeline for victims. Yet, with leaked content impossible to fully remove, the emotional and social toll on those affected remains severe.