Spain Launches Criminal Probe Into X, Meta, TikTok Over AI-Generated Child Abuse Content
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has ordered prosecutors to investigate three major social media platforms—X (formerly Twitter), Meta, and TikTok—for allegedly distributing AI-generated child sexual abuse material. The probe, announced Tuesday, marks Europe's latest regulatory escalation against big tech firms.
Prosecutors will examine potential crimes related to the creation and dissemination of AI-generated child pornography on these platforms. The investigation coincides with broader EU efforts to rein in platform abuses, including Ireland's separate probe into sexually explicit content from xAI's chatbot Grok.
Spain recently unveiled plans to ban social media access for users under 16 as part of child protection measures. The MOVE follows growing scrutiny of AI's role in amplifying harmful content across crypto-linked platforms like X, where illicit material could intersect with payment systems.