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Spain demands that TikTok suspend operations until child sexual abuse material gone

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Spanish government's demand for an operational halt comes after nonprofit Maldita.es uncovered extensive illicit content on the video-sharing platform. The fact-checking organization documented 1,183 explicit posts that accumulated at least 48 million views and interactions from over 26,000 user profiles. Although TikTok limited two related search terms within Spain, researchers found that users in other European nations could still access the abuse material.

Key points

  • Spanish authorities are seeking regulatory and prosecutorial action to halt TikTok's dome…: Spanish authorities are seeking regulatory and prosecutorial action to halt TikTok's domestic operations over child safety failures.
  • The confrontation reflects an escalating regulatory crackdown across Europe targeting har…: The confrontation reflects an escalating regulatory crackdown across Europe targeting harmful content on major tech networks.
  • Partial platform safeguards implemented regionally have failed to prevent access to illic…: Partial platform safeguards implemented regionally have failed to prevent access to illicit content across neighboring European borders.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

MADRID, Nov 10 : Spain's government has demanded that TikTok suspend its operations in Spain until it eliminates child sexual abuse material, it said on Tuesday, after a media report documented 1,183 explicit posts on the platform with millions of views.

Youth Minister Sira Rego, whose ministry cannot singlehandedly ban the platform in Spain, has appealed to prosecutors and the Data Protection Agency to take action against the social media company, according to a statement by the ministry.

"Social media cannot be lawless territory," Rego said.

The request comes months after Sanchez's government requested a probe into X, Meta and TikTok for allegedly spreading AI-generated child sexual abuse material, as European regulators intensify scrutiny of big tech over harmful and illegal content.

TikTok did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Spanish fact-checking nonprofit Maldita.es on Monday published an investigation revealing that videos of explicit child sexual abuse had been viewed on the platform at least 48 million times, with over 26,000 profiles commenting on and sharing the material.

The organisation published a follow-up story on Tuesday evening…

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