The Spanish government is calling for an investigation into Meta, X, and TikTok for the creation of child pornography using AI.

BarcelonaPedro Sánchez is standing firm and taking another step in the crusade against Big Tech. The Spanish president has announced that the Council of Ministers will ask the Public Prosecutor's Office this Tuesday to investigate X, Meta (which includes Facebook and Instagram), and TikTok for crimes they may be committing in the "creation and dissemination" of child pornography using their artificial intelligence (AI) tools. "These platforms are threatening the mental health, dignity, and rights of our sons and daughters. The State cannot allow this. The impunity of these giants must end," the head of the state executive stated in a message published on X. will ban social media for those under 16.This led Elon Musk, the owner of Xbox, to accuse him of being a "tyrant" and a "traitor." The tycoon declared war on the Spanish president for his statements and measures against the "abuses" of large platforms.

The age restriction on social media was the main announcement from the Spanish government as part of a five-point package announced two weeks ago, which also included investigating potential crimes committed on these platforms. "My government will work with the Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate and prosecute offenses committed by Grok [X's AI], TikTok, and Instagram," Sánchez said in a speech at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. Days later, in a video message released on social media, he denounced these apps as "havens" for criminal activity, pornography, and violence, and emphasized the AI's creation of "false knots," including those involving minors. The Council of Ministers will now invoke Article 8 of the Statute of the Public Prosecutor's Office, which empowers the executive branch to initiate investigations "in defense of the public interest."

"We are taking another step to guarantee children's rights on social media," said the Minister of Youth and Children, Sira Rego, in a letter to Bluesky. The request to the Public Prosecutor's Office can be made by the Ministry of Justice or by the Spanish President, but the Public Prosecutor's Office will have the final say on the actions to be taken.