Spanish authorities have launched investigations into allegations that child sexual abuse material was being circulated through TikTok after a major investigation by the non-profit fact-checking organisation Maldita.es identified more than 1,100 videos and images on the platform. The findings prompted the Government to request urgent action, including consideration of a temporary suspension of TikTok in Spain. However, the country’s data protection authority has since opted for measures targeting specific content rather than a nationwide suspension.

Maldita.es investigation identifies more than 1,100 items

Published on 9 November 2026, the investigation by Maldita.es followed a 35-day examination of TikTok, covering the period from 11 September to 15 October.

The organisation reported identifying 1,183 videos and images containing explicit child sexual abuse material, which had accumulated approximately 48 million views. It also identified around 26,000 accounts that it said were being used to exchange, buy or sell such material, or to groom and harass minors.

Maldita.es described the problem as extending beyond individual posts, raising concerns about the platform’s search functions, recommendation algorithms, live-streaming features and content moderation systems.

The investigation also examined how TikTok responded to reports submitted through its official channels. Maldita.es said it reported a sample of 50 videos as illegal content. According to the organisation, TikTok initially removed five of those videos, while another 13 were blocked only for users in Spain.

These findings were subsequently brought to the attention of Spanish authorities.

Government asks prosecutors and data protection authority to intervene

On 9 November, the Ministry of Youth and Childhood, led by Sira Rego, informed the Attorney General’s Office about the investigation and asked it to consider the measures necessary to protect children and adolescents potentially affected by the alleged activity.

The Ministry also raised the possibility of suspending TikTok’s services in Spain if the concerns could not be adequately addressed.

On 10 November, following meetings with Maldita.es and TikTok representatives, Rego confirmed that the Ministry had formally asked the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) to consider an exceptional temporary suspension of the platform.

The request relied on Article 66.1 of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, which provides for provisional measures in exceptional circumstances where urgent action is considered necessary to protect individuals’ rights and freedoms.

Rego made clear that the decision did not rest with her Ministry. The AEPD is an independent authority responsible for assessing the request and determining whether intervention is justified.

The Minister also called on TikTok to remove the reported material, cooperate with prosecutors and provide verifiable information about the action taken. The Ministry sought an explanation for the platform’s initial response to the 50 videos reported by Maldita.es, as well as a plan to address the problems identified.

AEPD chooses targeted action instead of a nationwide suspension

On 11 November, the AEPD announced its response to the case.

Rather than suspend TikTok throughout Spain, the authority said it would request the relevant links from Maldita.es and seek detailed information from TikTok about the measures taken to remove the reported content.

After examining the information, the agency said it would order the blocking of specific links and content where the processing of minors’ personal data is found to be unlawful.

It described the proposed intervention as concrete, proportionate and appropriate, with respect for freedom of expression and the right to information.

The AEPD also highlighted the limits of its authority. TikTok’s lead data protection regulator in Europe is Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, because the company has its European establishment in Ireland. The Spanish agency said it would share relevant information with the Irish regulator, other European authorities and the European Commission.

The decision means that the Government’s request did not result in a nationwide suspension of TikTok in Spain. Instead, the response is focused on investigating the allegations and restricting access to specific material where the legal conditions are met.

Attorney General opens a formal investigation

The legal response also advanced on 11 November, when Attorney General Teresa Peramato signed a decree assigning the case to Elvira Tejada de la Fuente, the Senior Prosecutor Coordinating Cybercrime.

The investigation will examine possible offences relating to the production and dissemination of child sexual abuse material and the corruption of minors that may have occurred through TikTok.

The decision followed a complaint submitted by Maldita.es to the Attorney General’s Cybercrime Unit. The organisation’s representatives appeared before the prosecutor on 11 November to formally confirm their complaint and submit supporting evidence for assessment.

The Prosecutor’s Office will now examine the material and determine whether there is evidence of criminal conduct.

TikTok faces scrutiny over child protection measures

The investigation has intensified scrutiny of TikTok’s ability to detect and remove illegal material and prevent the exploitation of minors through its services.

Maldita.es has argued that the platform’s search and recommendation systems made it possible to find accounts and material associated with child sexual abuse, while its reporting process did not initially result in the removal of much of the sample it submitted.

TikTok’s response was also a subject of discussion following the investigation. According to Maldita.es, the company initially restricted two search terms identified in its reporting in Spain and began removing some material. The organisation subsequently reported further changes to search filters.

The case now involves several authorities, with the AEPD addressing potential violations of data protection rules and the Prosecutor’s Office examining possible criminal offences.

For the moment, TikTok has not been suspended nationwide in Spain. The outcome will depend on the investigations, the assessment of the evidence and any further measures taken by the competent authorities.