Spain has ordered prosecutors to formally investigate the major social media platforms X, Meta, and TikTok over the alleged circulation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, signaling a major escalation in the country’s efforts to protect minors online.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the platforms, stating that their failure to safeguard children undermines mental health, dignity, and rights.
He said, “The state cannot allow this. The impunity of these giants must end.”
The investigation aims to determine whether these platforms violated Spanish laws that protect minors and restrict the dissemination of illegal content, particularly material created with emerging artificial intelligence technologies.
Earlier this month, Sánchez unveiled measures to combat online abuse, including a proposal to ban social media access for children under 16, citing the need to limit exposure to harmful content.
The Spanish action adds to growing European pressure on tech companies to tighten oversight of AI-amplified content, amid concerns that these tools make it easier to create and distribute illegal and exploitative material.
This development follows broader international scrutiny, with platforms like Meta and TikTok facing lawsuits and regulatory probes related to child protection and online safety
