Spain has opened an official investigation into major social media platforms X, Meta, and TikTok over the suspected circulation of artificial-intelligence-generated child sexual abuse material.
On February 17, 2026, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez instructed prosecutors to determine whether platform tools, features, or recommendation systems facilitated the creation, distribution, or amplification of illegal content involving minors.
The action follows a government review that highlighted the rising risks posed by AI misuse in digital spaces.
Authorities emphasized that social media companies must implement stronger safeguards to prevent harmful and unlawful content, especially material affecting children.
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Protecting minors online remains a national priority as AI-generated content grows increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect.
The investigation forms part of Spain’s broader push to tighten oversight of major digital platforms and enhance child safety online.
Prosecutors will evaluate compliance with criminal and digital-safety laws and decide whether further legal or regulatory measures are required.
The findings could shape future enforcement and influence global standards for managing AI-generated harmful content.