The Spain TikTok suspension debate has opened after an independent investigation claimed to find more than 1,000 child sexual abuse videos on the platform, with a combined 48 million views. Spain’s Ministry of Youth and Children says it is considering suspending the app.
The findings come from Maldita.es, a Spanish nonprofit that works against disinformation. It monitored TikTok for 35 days in September and October and published its report, titled “TikTok: Home to predators”, on Monday. TikTok has previously denied accusations that it fails to protect minors.
What the Maldita.es Investigation Found
| Finding | Figure reported |
|---|---|
| Child abuse videos | More than 1,000, with 48 million views |
| Suspected predator profiles | More than 20,000 (7,000 in Spanish); about 26,000 counting all categories |
| Profiles posting explicit content | 231 profiles, 1,183 items |
| Accounts seeking buyers | 780 |
| Accounts asking for image exchanges in comments | More than 10,000 |
The group also accused TikTok of amplifying content by minors through its algorithm and of profiting from live gifts. In three days, it said, the algorithm recommended 19 livestreams by minors, 15 of them in one morning, all recorded from schools. Maldita.es said it passed its details to the authorities.
How Spain Has Responded
The Ministry of Youth and Children has demanded explanations from TikTok, whose parent company is the Chinese firm ByteDance. In a post on X it said it had asked prosecutors to act and that Minister Sira Rego had demanded an urgent meeting with the platform’s representatives in Spain.
The foundation said that when its findings came out, TikTok had removed only about one-tenth of the flagged content and blocked about a quarter of illegal posts in Spain. These are the group’s claims; TikTok’s response to this specific report was not given in the report we reviewed.
Pressure on TikTok in Europe
TikTok already faces lawsuits and investigations over child safety. On Friday the European Union told the company to change the “harmful” design of its personalised “For You” feed or risk large fines under the bloc’s digital content rules.
What Happens Next
- The urgent meeting between the Spanish ministry and TikTok’s Spain representatives.
- Possible prosecutor action on the cases passed on by the ministry.
- A decision on whether a suspension is formally pursued.
- The EU deadline for changes to the For You feed.
Parents everywhere can use the app’s family controls and talk to children about live streaming. Official guidance is available from Europol.
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