European governments are intensifying efforts to hold big tech companies accountable for the content published on social media platforms. On Tuesday, Spain joined these initiatives by launching an investigation into child pornography, driven by concerns raised by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. He emphasized that such platforms are endangering the mental health, dignity, and rights of children. This comes amid a broader European push to regulate online content more effectively.

A report indicated that digital platforms might be involved in the dissemination of criminal content at a pace and opacity that make it challenging to trace responsible parties. This alarming trend includes the monetization of such content, which raises serious ethical and legal questions. Notably, Elma Saiz, a spokesperson, stated that within just 11 days, artificial intelligence technologies produced 3 million images of nudity, with a significant number potentially involving minors, underscoring the urgency of the investigation.

In response to these revelations, Spain is considering a ban on social media usage for individuals under the age of 16 as a preventive measure. While the three major tech companies involved have not yet commented on the matter, the issue of child safety online is gaining momentum across Europe, with countries like the United Kingdom also pushing for stricter regulations to safeguard children from harmful content on social media.