Focus on the BIG picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Founder of Controversial Website Arrested in France Amid Widespread Criminal Investigations

Isaac Steidl faces questioning as authorities link platform to over 23,000 crimes including rape and murder.
French authorities have detained Isaac Steidl, the 44-year-old founder of a now-defunct website implicated in a series of grave criminal activities, including rape, murder, and the exchange of paedophilic content.

Steidl was taken into custody in Paris, where he is being questioned by detectives following an international summoning.

The website, Coco, rose to notoriety following revelations that Dominique Pelicot, a 72-year-old retired electrician, utilized the platform to orchestrate heinous crimes against his spouse.

Pelicot, previously sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Avignon court, is known to have recruited over 80 men to rape his unconscious wife, Gisèle.

The ordeal spanned nearly a decade before his aberrant activities were stopped.

Pelicot was apprehended following a separate investigation when he was caught filming under the skirts of women in a supermarket.

The investigation unveiled a trove of videos and photographs documenting the abuse on his hard drive, implicating another 50 individuals.

These men received sentences ranging from three to 15 years, although 17 have filed appeals against their convictions.

Steidl, who reportedly created Coco in 2010 post his graduation as a computer engineer, allegedly set it up as a space for romantic engagements.

However, the platform quickly spiraled into an underworld conduit, drawing the interest of an array of offenders, from drug dealers to sexual predators.

By the time Pelicot was apprehended, its ownership had shifted to a URL registered on the Channel Islands.

The breadth of Coco's involvements adds another layer to its infamy.

In a separate incident uncovered by investigators last year, a man was brutally beaten to death in Dunkirk after arranging to meet a purported underaged girl via the site.

French media report that Steidl's venture was launched with backing from his parents, involving a €2,000 investment.

Global financial implications are evident with French police freezing approximately €5 million linked to Coco in various bank accounts across Hungary, Lithuania, Germany, and the Netherlands.

This financial trail suggests a broad and potentially highly organized criminal network operating under the guise of an ostensibly benign platform.

Steidl, initially hailing from southern France, relinquished his French citizenship in favor of Italian nationality in 2023, and has reportedly been residing in Eastern Europe.

The ongoing legal proceedings, spearheaded by Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, involve allegations of serious crimes, including unlawful online administration, aggravated procuring, and money laundering.

This case continues to unravel layers of criminal activity associated with digital platforms, heightening scrutiny on regulatory practices and the need for vigilant international law enforcement collaboration.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
When Cambodia Gave Washington the Finger and Thailand Showed Respect!
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
Thailand and Cambodia prepare for ceasefire talks as clashes intensify
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Trump: Leaders of Thailand and Cambodia agree to meet for ceasefire talks
Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa delivers his message boldly, clearly, and truthfully.
Trump says Obama 'has immunity' after Gabbard, DNI findings emerge
California Clinic Staff Charged for Interfering with ICE Arrest
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
CAMBODIA VS THAILAND: AIR POWER? WHAT AIR POWER?
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
Thailand Under Fire: Defending Sovereignty Against Cambodia’s Political Provocation
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Trump Threatens Washington NFL Team Over Name Change
Atlanta Faces Population Decline as Residents Seek Affordable Alternatives
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
×