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Spain has ordered public prosecutors to probe X, Meta, and TikTok over alleged use of AI to create and distribute sexual images of minors, amid growing international scrutiny and regulatory actions targeting AI misuse for exploitation.
Spain has instructed public prosecutors to open a probe into X, Meta and TikTok over allegations that their platforms have been used to create and distribute AI-generated sexual images of minors. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government would “invoke Article 8 of the Organic Statute of the Public Prosecution Service to request that it investigate the crimes that X, Meta and TikTok may be committing through the creation and dissemination of child pornography by means of their AI,” and warned the platforms were “attacking the mental health, dignity and rights of our sons and daughters” and that “the impunity of the giants must end.” According to reporting, the move forms part of a wider effort by Madrid to tighten online protections for children. [2],[3]
The announcement follows mounting scrutiny of AI tools used by large social networks to generate or alter images. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has already launched a formal inquiry into X’s Grok chatbot amid allegations it produced non-consensual intimate images, including those appearing to depict minors, and the European Commission has opened a separate probe into whether Grok has spread illegal sexualised content. Those regulatory actions are testing the limits of data-protection and online-safety laws across the EU. [4],[6]
Regulators point to a string of reported incidents that prompted enforcement steps. The European Commission’s examination came after media and civil-society investigations suggested Grok and similar systems were being used to produce exploitative images, while Ireland’s DPC said it would investigate possible misuse of personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation. The inquiries reflect concern that existing safeguards and company controls may not be adequate to prevent large-scale harms. [6],[4]
xAI and X have taken measures described as limitations on Grok’s image-editing capabilities, but critics and some national authorities say those steps have not been sufficient to stop abusive output. Reporting indicates that despite announced restrictions, explicit image editing has remained possible in some cases, prompting further probes such as the California attorney-general’s review of Grok’s outputs and French raids and summons related to alleged wrongdoing. [7],[5]
Meta and TikTok have defended their policies and technical safeguards. Meta told reporters its AI systems are trained not to produce nudity on request and that it bars so-called “nudify” apps from advertising, while TikTok described child sexual abuse material as “abhorrent and categorically prohibited” and said it invests in technologies to prevent exploitation. Nevertheless, regulators in the EU have taken separate enforcement actions against both companies this year over issues including platform design and competition concerns. [2],[6]
The political stakes in Spain are high. Sánchez has also floated legislation to prohibit social-media use by under-16s, a proposal that would require parliamentary approval and follows Australia’s recent ban in December. The prime minister framed the debate as a challenge to the influence and accountability of major technology firms, while critics, including Elon Musk, have angrily dismissed age-based restrictions. Musk posted on X calling the proposals “madness” and labelled Sánchez “a tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain.” [3],[5]
As European regulators widen their scrutiny, the investigations are likely to probe both technical safeguards inside AI systems and the companies’ compliance with data-protection and digital-services rules. Industry responses and enforcement outcomes will shape how platforms are required to prevent the creation and spread of harmful AI-generated imagery in the months ahead. [6],[4]
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article is current, published on February 17, 2026, and reports on recent actions taken by the Spanish government, ensuring high freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and other officials are present. While these quotes are consistent across multiple reputable sources, their exact origins are not independently verifiable in the provided information.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The article is sourced from TIME, a major news organisation known for its journalistic standards. However, the reliance on a single source for the primary information slightly reduces the score.
Plausibility check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims align with recent global concerns over AI-generated content and child exploitation. Similar investigations have been reported in other countries, adding credibility. However, the specific details of the Spanish government’s actions are not independently verified in the provided information.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article is current and sourced from a reputable news organisation. However, the reliance on a single source for primary information and the inability to independently verify direct quotes and specific details slightly reduce the confidence in the overall assessment.
