Spain has launched an investigation into the social media platforms X, Meta, and TikTok on suspicion of distributing child sexual abuse material generated by artificial intelligence.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced this on February 17, 2026. The government formally requested the country’s Attorney General’s Office to investigate possible crimes related to the creation and distribution of child pornography using the AI tools of these platforms.
“These platforms undermine the mental health, dignity, and rights of our children and daughters. The state cannot allow this. The impunity of these giants must end,” Sánchez wrote in his post on X.
According to Spanish authorities, approximately 3 million AI-generated nude images, including those depicting minors, have been circulated online in the last two weeks alone. Particular attention has been drawn to the Grok tool, which critics say facilitates the creation of such content.
The investigation focuses not only on individual users but also on potential criminal liability for companies themselves for inadequate moderation, algorithmic promotion of harmful content, and the lack of effective measures to prevent such material.
Previously, similar investigations were initiated by authorities in the UK, France, Ireland, and the European Commission.
Experts believe the investigation’s findings could lead to large fines, blocking of certain functions, or even court injunctions on platforms in Spain if systematic violations are proven.