Spain Looks into Big Tech Companies About Fake Child Abuse Pictures Made by AI

Spanish officials are looking into major tech companies like X, Meta, and TikTok. They are checking if these companies are doing enough to stop fake child abuse pictures made using AI from being shared. This is part of a larger effort to make the internet safer.
By Newsroom | Technology, Europe |

The use of artificial intelligence to create and spread non-consensual sexual content, particularly involving minors, has prompted a significant inquiry by Spanish authorities. This investigation targets prominent social media platforms, including X, Meta, and TikTok, signaling a critical juncture in the global effort to curb the harmful applications of AI technology.

Background

Concerns surrounding AI-generated sexual abuse material have escalated, with Spain taking concrete steps to address the issue. A recent study by Save the Children Spain highlighted the alarming prevalence of these offenses. The report indicated that one in five young people in Spain, surveyed between the ages of 18 and 21, reported that non-consensual nude images of them, created using AI, were shared online before they turned 18. Nearly all participants in the survey also reported experiencing some form of sexual violence online.

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This widespread abuse prompted legislative action. On March 25, 2025, Spain's government unveiled a draft bill aimed at criminalizing the creation and distribution of AI-generated sexually explicit images or videos of individuals without their consent. Justice Minister Felix Bolanos stated the government's intention to classify "deepfakes of a sexual or seriously insulting nature" as crimes against moral integrity. The impetus for this bill stemmed from documented cases involving the spread of fake nude images of underage girls created with AI.

Evidence and Investigations

The gravity of the situation has drawn the attention of regulatory bodies beyond Spain. The EU privacy watchdog initiated a probe into Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) concerning allegations of sexualized AI images being circulated on the platform. This action by the EU privacy watchdog underscores the cross-border implications of such content.

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In January 2026, a cabinet briefing in Spain indicated that the government was actively targeting various online harms, including AI deepfakes and issues related to child abuse reparations. While the specifics of the cabinet's discussion regarding the tech firm investigations are not fully detailed in the provided summaries, the timing and focus suggest a coordinated approach to address these digital threats.

Deep Dive: The Scope of the Problem

Prevalence of AI-Generated Abusive Content

The Save the Children Spain study provides crucial quantitative data on the reach of AI-enabled abuse. The survey of over 1,000 young people offers a stark picture of young people's experiences online:

  • One in five young people in Spain reported being victims of AI-generated nude images shared without consent.

  • These images were created using Artificial Intelligence.

  • The reported incidents occurred when the individuals were under 18 years old.

  • A significant majority, nearly all, of the surveyed individuals reported experiencing some form of sexual violence online.

Legislative Response and Criminalization

Spain's legislative efforts aim to provide a legal framework to combat AI-generated abusive material. The draft bill represents a proactive governmental stance:

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  • The proposed legislation seeks to criminalize the use of AI to generate sexual images or videos without consent.

  • The focus is on content that depicts a person's face or body, creating realistic but false representations.

  • The aim is to consider such deepfakes as crimes against moral integrity, signaling the psychological and social harm caused.

  • This move is a direct response to real-world cases of AI-generated fake nude images of minors being disseminated.

Regulatory Scrutiny of Social Media Platforms

The investigation into X, Meta, and TikTok by Spanish authorities, and the separate probe by the EU privacy watchdog into X, highlights the role these platforms play in the dissemination of harmful content. These investigations will likely examine:

  • The platforms' content moderation policies and their effectiveness in identifying and removing AI-generated abusive material.

  • The technical capabilities of these platforms to detect and prevent the upload and spread of such content.

  • The extent to which user data and reporting mechanisms are utilized to address these violations.

  • Whether these platforms have adequate safeguards in place to protect minors from exploitation.

Expert Analysis

While specific expert commentary on the current Spanish investigation is not provided in the source material, broader discussions around AI and online safety offer relevant context. Experts in digital ethics and child protection have consistently raised alarms about the dual-use nature of AI, where generative technologies can be employed for both creative and destructive purposes. The ease with which realistic deepfakes can be produced means that platforms bear a significant responsibility to implement robust detection and prevention systems. The current probes by Spain and the EU are indicative of a growing consensus among regulators that platforms must be held accountable for the harms facilitated by their services, especially when involving vulnerable populations.

Conclusion

Spain's investigation into X, Meta, and TikTok over AI-generated child sexual abuse material signifies a critical development in the global effort to regulate artificial intelligence. The findings from Save the Children Spain provide empirical evidence of the widespread impact of these technologies on young people. Coupled with the legislative efforts to criminalize such acts, Spain is signaling a strong commitment to protecting its citizens, particularly minors, from online exploitation. The involvement of the EU privacy watchdog suggests that this issue is being addressed at a supra-national level, indicating a potential for broader regulatory frameworks across the European Union. The outcome of these investigations is likely to have significant implications for how social media platforms manage AI-generated content and safeguard their users.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Spain investigating?
Spain is investigating big tech companies like X, Meta, and TikTok. They are looking into fake child abuse pictures made using AI that are shared on their sites.
Q: Why is Spain doing this?
A study found many young people in Spain had fake nude pictures of them made with AI and shared online. This led to new laws being planned.
Q: What are the new laws about?
The new laws will make it a crime to create or share fake sexual pictures or videos of people using AI without their permission.
Q: Are other countries looking into this?
Yes, the EU privacy watchdog is also looking into X about fake AI images. This shows it is a problem in many places.