On Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a government request for prosecutors to investigate social media powerhouses X, Meta, and TikTok. The focus of this inquiry is the alleged proliferation of child sexual abuse material generated by artificial intelligence on these platforms—a significant escalation in Europe’s broader push to regulate major tech corporations.
Sánchez voiced strong concerns, stating, “These platforms are undermining the mental health, dignity, and rights of our children.” He emphasized that the state could not tolerate such a situation, declaring, “The impunity of these giants must end.”
While X and TikTok have not yet issued an immediate response, Meta opted to decline comment. This development follows a recent raid by French police on X’s Paris offices, also related to similar accusations. At that time, X vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
This announcement from Spain further fuels an escalating conflict between European governments and American tech companies. The previous U.S. administration had notably supported these tech giants against European attempts to impose stricter industry regulations.
This ongoing dispute highlights a fundamental divergence between the United States and its major tech companies on one side, and the European Union and its member states on the other. Disagreements center on the definition of protected speech and the responsibilities of corporations in safeguarding the well-being of individuals impacted by their platforms. Europe has emerged as a crucial testing ground for democratic governments seeking to effectively regulate and penalize some of the world’s most powerful industries. For instance, in December, the European Union levied its inaugural fine under the new Digital Services Act, sanctioning X, Elon Musk’s social media platform, with a penalty of 120 million euros (approximately $140 million) for various breaches. More recently, French police conducted a search of X’s local offices, part of an investigation by the French cybercrime division into the dissemination of child pornography and Holocaust denial content on the platform.
Further intensifying scrutiny, Britain’s data protection regulator has launched its own investigation into X, specifically concerning sexually explicit images created by its AI chatbot, Grok. On the same Tuesday, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission also announced an investigation into whether Grok facilitated the spread of pornographic images involving children on the platform.
European leaders consistently maintain that these initiatives are solely focused on protecting citizens from abuse, refuting claims by American politicians and tech executives that their actions aim to restrict free speech.
Known for his willingness to challenge figures like former U.S. President Trump and major American tech companies, Mr. Sánchez specifically urged prosecutors to “investigate the crimes that X, Meta, and TikTok may be committing through the creation and dissemination of child pornography using their AI.”
Just this month, Spain aligned with France, Denmark, and Australia in pursuing a ban on social media access for children under 16. Sánchez underscored this initiative by declaring, “We will protect them from the digital Wild West.”
While the proposed social media ban awaits parliamentary approval, Mr. Sánchez’s direct accusation of “crimes committed” by Grok quickly provoked a harsh and personal attack from Mr. Musk aimed at the Spanish Prime Prime Minister.
Interestingly, some Spanish political observers posited that this strong reaction was precisely what Mr. Sánchez intended. He has been actively working to establish himself as a prominent liberal leader on the international stage, especially amidst significant domestic political divisions and controversies.