The publication of an investigation into child sexual abuse networks on TikTok triggered a preliminary inquiry in Spain and regulatory alerts in the European Union in under 48 hours. Behind the finding is Fundación Maldita.es, a nonprofit organization that has transformed Spanish-language verification journalism: it has moved from debunking viral chains and fake news to producing documentary evidence capable of activating prosecutors and opening debate on the criminal liability of major technology platforms.

A hybrid model spanning journalism, technology and community

Founded by Clara Jiménez Cruz and Julio Montes Moreno, Maldita.es operates from Madrid under an independent, advertising-free model funded by citizen donations, philanthropy, European projects and technology partnerships. Certified by international networks such as the IFCN and the EFCSN, and with active ties to media in Latin America and Mexico through initiatives such as LatamChequea, the organization combines a newsroom with an in-house technology development team and thousands of external specialists. Although in the Spanish-speaking world it is often associated with media literacy and WhatsApp verification chatbots, its structure has allowed it to scale toward high-impact algorithmic investigations.

The TikTok case: 35 days of tracking and moderation failures

The turning point came on November 9, 2026, with the publication of the report _"TikTok, el hogar del pederasta"_. After 35 days of technical analysis, the team documented 1,183 videos with explicit child sexual abuse material that had accumulated close to 48 million views, and also identified more than 26,000 profiles dedicated to commenting on and sharing such content.

The investigation also exposed the inadequacy of the platform's internal filters: of a sample of 50 videos reported through TikTok's official channels, the company removed only 5 and blocked 13 exclusively in Spanish territory, leaving the rest active while its algorithms continued to recommend similar material.

From the newsroom to the Prosecutor's Office in 48 hours

The documentary strength of the report provoked an immediate institutional reaction. On the same day, November 9, Spain's Ministry of Youth and Children asked the Public Prosecutor's Office to intervene and, one day later, requested that the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) order the precautionary suspension of the app in the country.

On November 11, the Attorney General of the State, Teresa Peramato, opened criminal investigation proceedings, assigned to the coordinating prosecutor against cybercrime, Elvira Tejada, after receiving a terabyte of evidence delivered by Maldita.es. These actions are preliminary in nature and do not yet name any suspect. The file examines possible crimes of distribution of child abuse material and corruption of minors, and also assesses whether TikTok could face criminal liability as a legal entity, but only if the Prosecutor's Office gathers sufficient evidence will it file a formal complaint before a court. In parallel, the AEPD announced that it had referred the case to Ireland's data protection authority and to the European Commission under the framework of the Digital Services Act (DSA), while the platform began restricting certain search terms.

For the digital ecosystem in Mexico and Ibero-America, the case draws a necessary distinction between activating institutional scrutiny and achieving an effective sanction. Technical and verification journalism demonstrated its capacity to trigger official inquiries in the face of corporate self-regulation failures, but the process is only beginning: with no formal charges or final judicial rulings, the real reach of this precedent will depend on whether the documentary evidence translates into concrete legal liabilities and verifiable changes in platform moderation.

Fuentes consultadas

  • Maldita.es, _"La denuncia de Fundación Maldita.es lleva a la Fiscalía a abrir una investigación sobre abuso sexual infantil en TikTok"_ (November 11, 2026).
  • Moncloa.com, _"La Fiscalía General del Estado investiga a TikTok por abuso sexual infantil y corrupción de menores"_ (November 12, 2026).
  • Demócrata.es, _"TikTok acusa a Maldita.es de impedir la retirada de contenidos de abuso sexual infantil tras su investigación"_ (November 9, 2026).
  • Artículo 14, _"El Gobierno pide a la Fiscalía que actúe contra la difusión de vídeos de abuso sexual infantil en TikTok"_ (November 9, 2026).
  • Fundación Maldita.es, team page and transparency portal _"Las malditas cuentas"_ (updated in July 2026).
  • European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), directory of verified members (Fundación Maldita.es).
  • Fundación Gabo, _"Con lenguaje coloquial, formatos atractivos e inteligencia artificial, Maldita.es combate la desinformación y multiplica su audiencia"_ (December 16, 2020).