The Spanish government has mandated an investigation into the social media platforms X, Meta, and TikTok for their involvement in disseminating material relating to child sexual abuse that is generated by artificial intelligence. This directive comes from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in response to wider concerns regarding the responsibility of big tech companies in managing harmful and illegal content on their platforms. The move reflects intensifying regulatory oversight in Europe, where authorities have been cracking down on digital spaces to ensure greater accountability from tech giants.

This investigation is part of a broader strategy announced by Sánchez earlier in the month during a governmental summit in Dubai, aimed at tightening regulations around social networking sites. The report which underpinned the decision involved inputs from three distinct ministries and signals a proactive approach by the Spanish authorities toward enforcing stricter content moderation and compliance measures. Regulators have accused these firms not only of contributing to illegal content dissemination but also of engaging in practices that may undermine fair competition in digital advertising and encourage addictive platform designs.

The spokesperson for the government, Elma Saiz, indicated that this investigation is the first in a series of regulatory actions intended to reshape the operational frameworks of major social media companies. As these companies have not yet responded publicly to the accusations, the developments may lead to significant changes in how they manage user-generated content and could influence broader European regulations regarding digital safety and corporate accountability.