Spain Considers TikTok Ban Over Failure to Protect Children

Popular short-video sharing platform TikTok has come under intense criticism over allegations that it has failed to curb content related to child sexual abuse and the activities of suspected child abusers. A recent investigation by Spain-based independent anti-disinformation and fact-checking foundation Maldita.es identified more than 20,000 suspected paedophile accounts on TikTok. Following the publication of the report, the Spanish government is seriously considering banning the platform in the country.

According to the foundation’s report, researchers monitored the platform for 35 days during September and October and found more than 1,000 public posts or videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). These videos had collectively been viewed 48 million times. The investigation also identified more than 20,000 suspected paedophile profiles actively using the platform, including at least 7,000 accounts operating in Spanish.

Researchers said TikTok’s algorithms and features were being exploited by child abusers. They also found that the platform’s live-streaming and virtual gifting features were being used to lure minors with financial incentives and pressure them into performing sexually suggestive acts. Such incidents were identified during the monitoring of 91 live streams across 17 countries. Despite these streams being flagged, TikTok reportedly removed or blocked only a small proportion of them.

Following the revelations, Spain’s Ministry of Youth and Children described the issue as “extremely serious”. Spain’s Minister for Youth and Children, Sira Rego, summoned TikTok’s local executives to an urgent meeting and called on cybercrime prosecutors to take formal legal action over the matter.

The European Union has also urged TikTok to change its harmful recommendation system and feed, warning that the platform could otherwise face substantial fines.