Briefing
On 9 November 2026, the Ministry for Youth and Children the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalía General del Estado) was asked to examine reports published by the investigative platform Maldita.es concerning alleged cases of sexual abuse of minors on the video platform TikTok According to the ministry, as reported by leading Spanish news agencies, the matter concerns more than a thousand identified videos and thousands of profiles cited in the Maldita.es investigation.
The ministry stressed that the findings pointed to “serious shortcomings” in the platform’s detection and moderation mechanisms, as well as in its recommendation practices. The minister also Sira Rego called for an urgent meeting with TikTok’s representatives in Spain to demand explanations and immediate action. The possibility of examining a temporary suspension or “paralysis” of certain services in Spain was also raised as a potential administrative measure; under Spanish law, this would require formal administrative acts and clearly established legal grounds.
The measures announced are the government’s response to the investigation published by Maldita.es; they do not yet constitute a judicial finding. The public prosecutor’s office will now decide whether to open criminal proceedings. The case also sits within a broader European context: EU authorities and national competition and data protection regulators had previously been monitoring TikTok in relation to child protection and compliance with the Digital Services Act .
In previous cases, TikTok has stressed that it prohibits the sexual exploitation of minors and takes steps to remove content. Specific details about the content affected in Spain and the intervention lists to date are available only in the published Maldita.es investigations and ministry statements. The Fiscalía’s investigation and any official orders must be awaited before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).