**The Digital Darlings Under Fire**
As Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez delivers a stern warning to social media giants X, Meta, and TikTok over their alleged role in producing and spreading AI-generated child sexual abuse material, a wave of scrutiny is washing over the tech industry. Sánchez's call for an investigation into the platforms marks a pivotal moment in Spain's efforts to crack down on social media more broadly.
"The Council of Ministers will 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," Sánchez wrote on X, the platform owned by Elon Musk.
**AI-Generated Content at the Center**
At the heart of the controversy is AI chatbot Grok, developed by Musk's xAI, which has been accused of generating millions of sexualized images, including those featuring minors. The findings of the Center for Countering Digital Hate have sparked outrage, with many calling for greater regulation of AI-generated content.
"We continue to prioritize and invest in advanced technologies to stay one step ahead of bad actors," a spokesperson for TikTok said in a statement to TIME, emphasizing the platform's commitment to preventing the exploitation of young people.
**A Broader Shift**
Spain's move to ban social media for kids under the age of 16 is part of a broader trend. Australia became the first country to implement such a prohibition in December, and other nations, including France and Denmark, have made similar moves in recent months.
Sánchez has been vocal about the need for stronger regulations, stating that social media "is a failed state, a place where laws are ignored, and crime is endured, where disinformation is worth more than truth, and half of users suffer hate speech."
**International Scrutiny**
The investigation into X and xAI is not an isolated incident. Ireland's Data Protection Commission has formally opened an investigation into X for its use of personal data, including that of children, to produce potentially harmful images. The European Commission has also launched an investigation into Grok's alleged dissemination of illegal sexualized content.
"The previous month, the EU separately fined X roughly 120 million euros for violations to its Digital Services Act," TIME reported earlier this month. "Regulators said X's blue checkmark system and ad database had been found to breach the law's transparency requirements."
**A Changing Landscape**
The tech industry is facing increasing scrutiny over its handling of AI-generated content. The investigation into X and xAI marks a turning point in the conversation, with many calling for greater regulation and accountability.
As Sánchez emphasized, "the impunity of the giants must end." The question remains: what will come next in the battle to protect young people from the darker corners of the internet?
