MADRID: Spain’s government has called for TikTok to suspend its operations in the country until it removes child sexual abuse material from its platform, following an investigation that reportedly uncovered more than 1,100 explicit posts attracting millions of views.
The demand, announced on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, marks a fresh escalation in Europe’s growing scrutiny of social media companies over the circulation of illegal and harmful content, particularly material involving children.
According to Reuters, Spain’s Youth Minister, Sira Rego, has appealed to prosecutors and the country’s Data Protection Agency to take action against TikTok.
Rego’s ministry said the government wanted the platform’s operations suspended until the company effectively eliminates the illegal material.
The minister stressed that social media platforms must not be allowed to operate outside the law.
“Social media cannot be lawless territory,” Rego said.
However, the Youth Ministry does not have the authority to independently order a nationwide ban on TikTok, making intervention by the relevant legal and regulatory authorities necessary.
The government’s demand followed an investigation by Spanish fact-checking organisation Maldita.es, which reported discovering 1,183 explicit posts involving child sexual abuse material on TikTok.
The organisation said the videos had collectively been viewed at least 48 million times, while more than 26,000 profiles had reportedly commented on or shared the material.
The findings have intensified concerns about the ability of social media platforms to detect, restrict and remove illegal content before it spreads widely.
Maldita.es published a follow-up report on Tuesday evening, stating that TikTok had restricted two search terms identified in its investigation as pathways through which users in Spain could find child sexual abuse content.
However, the organisation said searches conducted from other European countries could still lead users to the same material.
The development has raised further questions about whether restrictions applied in one country are sufficient to prevent access to illegal content across a wider regional network.
The latest move comes months after the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez requested investigations into X, Meta and TikTok over allegations that the platforms were distributing AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
European regulators have increasingly focused on the responsibilities of major technology companies to prevent illegal content from appearing on their platforms and to respond effectively when such material is identified.
Spain’s latest demand signals a tougher approach to enforcement, with the government seeking stronger action rather than relying solely on voluntary content moderation by social media companies.
The case also highlights the growing challenge posed by artificial intelligence and digital platforms, particularly the speed at which harmful material can be uploaded, shared and accessed by large audiences.
TikTok had not immediately responded to a Reuters request for comment at the time of publication.
It remains unclear whether the company will comply with the Spanish government’s demand or what specific measures regulators and prosecutors may pursue.
The proposed suspension would represent a significant regulatory confrontation between a major social media platform and a European government.
For TikTok, the controversy adds to mounting pressure over content moderation, child protection and the effectiveness of its systems for identifying and removing illegal material.
The investigation and the Spanish government’s response have placed renewed attention on the responsibility of technology companies to protect children online and prevent their platforms from being exploited to circulate criminal content.
