Overview
- The investigative group Maldita.es published its latest report on Monday documenting more than 1,000 explicit child sexual abuse videos, about 48 million views, and roughly 20,000 suspect profiles on TikTok.
- The Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD) has opened formal proceedings, asked TikTok for detailed removal practices, and requested from Maldita.es the list of allegedly illicit links so it can order blocking after analysis.
- The Ministry of Youth and Childhood has asked the Fiscalía to investigate and the minister, Sira Rego, has sought an urgent meeting with TikTok while leaving open the possibility of suspending the app in Spain.
- TikTok says such content is strictly banned and that it uses detection tools and cooperates with authorities but acknowledges that some abusers change tactics to evade controls and initially removed only five of a 50-video sample flagged by Maldita.es.
- This is Maldita.es’s third report on the issue and the AEPD says it will coordinate with Irish and European data authorities, a development that could set a precedent for faster link blocking and greater platform accountability to reduce harm to children and families.