Summary: Spain's executive has instructed prosecutors to investigate allegations that X, Meta and TikTok are involved in creating and spreading AI-generated child sexual abuse material, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced. The government action is part of mounting regulatory pressure across Europe on major technology companies over harmful content and other alleged abuses.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on his X account that the platforms were harming "the mental health, dignity, and rights of our children" and that the state cannot allow this situation to continue. He said the government would request prosecutors to "investigate the crimes that X, Meta, and TikTok may be committing through the creation and dissemination of child pornography using their AI".
The three companies named in Sanchez's statement did not immediately reply to emailed requests for comment.
Context and recent enforcement actions
Sanchez's announcement arrives amid escalating action by European authorities toward large technology firms, addressing a range of issues from allegedly anti-competitive practices in digital advertising to the intentional design of addictive features on social networks. Spain's move is one of several national responses focused specifically on sexually explicit material generated by automated systems.
Spain is not acting in isolation. Authorities in other countries have opened inquiries or taken steps in response to sexually explicit content attributed to the xAI chatbot Grok on X. The article notes that such actions include investigations, bans and demands for safeguards as governments seek to reduce the circulation of illegal content online.
Earlier this month Spanish authorities announced a package of measures intended to curb online abuse and enhance protections for children. Those measures included a proposed ban on access to social media platforms for anyone under the age of 16.
On the same day as Sanchez's statement, French police executed a raid on X offices and prosecutors ordered Elon Musk to face questions in an expanding inquiry that reflects increasing scrutiny of the platform across Europe.
In November, Sanchez said Spain's parliament would carry out an investigation into Meta over potential privacy violations affecting its Facebook and Instagram users. Separately, Ireland's Data Protection Commission revealed it had opened a formal probe into Grok over the processing of personal data and the chatbot's potential to produce harmful sexualised images and video, including of children.
Key points
- Spain has asked prosecutors to probe X, Meta and TikTok for allegedly creating and distributing AI-generated child sexual abuse material - legal and regulatory sectors most directly affected.
- The action is part of wider European scrutiny of big tech on content safety, privacy and platform design - impacting technology and digital advertising sectors.
- Related enforcement steps in other countries include raids, parliamentary inquiries, and data protection investigations into AI chatbots and platform practices - relevant to legal, regulatory and compliance functions within tech firms.
Risks and uncertainties
- Legal outcomes are uncertain - prosecutors will determine whether crimes have been committed, which could affect litigation and compliance costs for the named platforms.
- Further regulatory actions in Europe could follow, given ongoing investigations and enforcement by national authorities - potential implications for platform operations and moderation policies.
- Public and governmental scrutiny may prompt additional policy measures, such as age restrictions or content controls, which could influence user engagement and product strategies for social media companies.
The information above reflects statements and developments as provided by Spanish authorities and referenced enforcement actions in other jurisdictions. Where organizations were approached for comment, no immediate responses were recorded.