Spain to probe X, Meta, TikTok over AI child abuse content

Spain has ordered prosecutors to investigate social media platforms X, Meta, and TikTok over allegations of distributing AI-generated child sexual abuse material, as part of broader European efforts to regulate online content.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the investigation, citing concerns about harmful material and the potential impact on children’s safety, privacy, and dignity.

TikTok said that child sexual abuse material is “abhorrent and categorically prohibited” on its platform and highlighted its efforts to prevent exploitation.

X and Meta did not immediately comment.

The investigation follows a technical report from three Spanish ministries and aligns with ongoing European Union inquiries into Meta, TikTok, and X’s AI systems for potential violations.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

The scale of AI-generated child sexual abuse material is rising fast

IWF data shared in a LinkedIn post puts AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) videos at 13 in 2024 and 3,440 in 2025; nearly two-thirds fell in the most severe category 1.
Researchers have found links to child sexual abuse material inside some widely used AI training datasets 2.
Investigators have also found AI chatbot sites that let users simulate sexual abuse scenarios involving children, plus related synthetic CSAM 3.

Spain’s probe raises pressure on platforms and AI governance

Spain’s government has asked prosecutors to probe whether X, Meta, or TikTok committed crimes by creating and spreading child sexual abuse material using AI; the request covers alleged creation on the platforms as well as distribution 4.
Photorealistic synthetic media can pull law enforcement time away from finding real children facing ongoing abuse, slowing child protection work 2.
Australia brought in a nationwide ban on social media for under-16s in December; polling cited in Al Jazeera found 82% support in Spain for banning social media use by children under 14, separate from Spain’s prime minister’s proposed under-16 restriction 4.