Spain has launched an investigation against Twitter (X), Meta and TikTok, suspecting them of creating and distributing AI child porn

The Spanish government has ordered the Attorney General's Office to investigate whether Twitter (X), Meta and TikTok committed criminal offenses by allowing the creation and distribution of child pornography using artificial intelligence - deepfakes and manipulation of real photographs. This was stated by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, calling the goal of the initiative to protect “the mental health, dignity and rights of our children” and end the “impunity” of large platforms, The Guardian reports .

The decision was made following an expert report that assessed the possible criminal liability of companies for creating sexualized content with minors through deepfakes, as well as the fact that platforms ensure its “mass distribution with a speed and secrecy that significantly complicate the detection” of such content and form networks for its production, exchange and monetization. Government spokeswoman Elma Saiz said Madrid would not allow algorithms to “reinforce or protect” child sexual abuse in the digital environment. In parallel, the government is preparing a package of legislative measures - a ban on social networks for children under 16 years of age and a mechanism for holding tech companies accountable for harmful content.

It is noted that pressure on the above platforms continues in Europe: earlier, the European Commission launched a “very serious” investigation into the dissemination of nude images of real people, including minors, on Twitter (X), created by the chatbot Grok, and the British media regulator Ofcom and the data protection regulator ICO launched their own investigations against Elon Musk’s xAI. The Irish Data Protection Commission, which oversees tech companies with European headquarters in Dublin, also announced a major investigation into Grok.

Meta said it did not have detailed information about the Spanish investigation, but assured of the company's "exceptionally tough" stance on the sexual exploitation of children - all such content is removed when detected. Twitter (X) and TikTok have not yet commented on the situation. At the same time, Sanchez’s initiatives aroused criticism: Elon Musk called the prime minister a “tyrant and a traitor,” and Telegram founder Pavel Durov sent a personal message to all Spanish users of the messenger, in which he accused the government of trying to turn the country into a “surveillance state under the guise of protecting” children.

Spain has become another country in a series of countries tightening regulation of social networks in order to protect minors. Similar measures have already been taken or are being considered in the UK, France and Greece. In December, Australia became the first country to legally prohibit children under 16 from using social media.