The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) confirmed on Wednesday that it has opened an investigation into the alleged distribution of child sexual abuse material on TikTok. The move follows an investigative report by the organization Maldita.es, which identified 1,183 posts containing explicit content depicting sexual abuse of minors. While the Spanish government has requested a temporary suspension of TikTok within Spain, the AEPD rejected the ban, opting instead for targeted interventions against illegal content. [2] [1]
According to the AEPD, the agency will request the specific links identified by Maldita.es from the organization and demand information from TikTok regarding the measures taken to remove the reported material. After analyzing the data, the authority intends to apply measures that are 'concrete, proportionate and adequate,' including blocking access to specific links and materials involving the unlawful processing of minors' data. Maldita.es stated that its investigation revealed over 26,000 profiles potentially linked to the distribution or exchange of such content, with nearly 100 live streams involving minors recorded across 17 countries. [2] [1]
In a separate development, the Attorney General's Office of Spain ordered an investigation into potential crimes related to the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material and the corruption of minors committed via TikTok. The Spanish Data Protection Agency explained that its jurisdiction is limited because the primary European body responsible for overseeing TikTok's data compliance is the Irish Data Protection Commission. The AEPD announced it would transmit the obtained information to Irish authorities, other European regulatory bodies, and the European Commission. [2] [1]
The investigations come amid increasing pressure on major technology platforms in Europe regarding the distribution of illegal content and the protection of minors online. Following the publication of the Maldita.es report, TikTok implemented restrictions on search terms identified by the journalists, although Maldita.es noted that similar searches could still yield illegal content when performed from outside Spain. TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters and AFP. [1] [2]
- Categories:
- Technology
- Entities:
