Spain to investigate social media firms over AI-generated child sexual abuse material
The article reports that Spain has launched an investigation into major social media companies over the alleged spread of AI-generated child sexual abuse material. The probe targets platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Meta, and TikTok, and was announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The Spanish government has asked state prosecutors to determine whether these companies may have committed criminal offences by allowing their AI systems or platforms to generate and distribute illegal sexual content involving minors. The decision follows an expert report that warned about the increasing use of artificial intelligence to create explicit images through deepfakes and manipulated photographs of children.
According to officials, the investigation aims to protect children’s rights, dignity, and mental health, which the government says are threatened by the rapid spread of such content online. Sánchez stated that the government wants to end the “impunity” of large technology companies if they fail to prevent harmful material from circulating on their platforms.
The move is part of a broader effort by Spain and other European regulators to increase oversight of large technology platforms and address harmful online practices linked to artificial intelligence. Authorities are particularly concerned about AI tools that can easily generate realistic sexual images or videos, which may be difficult to detect and remove quickly.
Spain is also considering additional measures to protect minors online, including proposals to restrict access to social media for children under the age of 16. Officials describe many social media platforms as operating like a “digital Wild West,” where harmful content can spread rapidly without sufficient accountability.
The companies involved have largely denied wrongdoing. Meta said it has strong policies against child sexual exploitation and removes such material when found, while TikTok stated that abusive content is strictly prohibited and that it invests heavily in detection technologies to protect young users.
Overall, the investigation reflects growing global concern about the misuse of generative AI, especially when it is used to create illegal or exploitative content involving children.
