An investigation by Maldita.es has uncovered more than 1,000 videos containing explicit child sexual abuse material on TikTok, which have accumulated over 48 million views. The analysis has identified a network of 26,000+ profiles of potential child predators, 7,700 of which operate in Spanish, that use the platform to offer or exchange this material, subsequently directing users to apps such as Telegram or Zangi.
Following the compilation of the evidence, Maldita.es —a founding member of the IBERIFIER consortium— submitted a sample of this content to the platform via its official reporting channels. Only 10 per cent of them was removed.
For 35 days, the research team analysed the behaviour of the platform, replicating the search patterns typical of such networks, and detailing how TikTok’s recommendation algorithm and search engine operate without the necessary safety filters, thereby allowing direct access to and the distribution of this content. Maldita.es has field a complaint against the platform with the Cybercrime Prosecutor’s Office in Spain.
Live operation and prior knowledge of the company
The report focuses on the use of live streams. According to the investigation, networks of users contact minors who are streaming live from their homes or schools during school hours, offering them money in exchange for performing sexually suggestive acts to generate new material and add to their collections.
Maldita.es reported a sample of this content to TikTok via its official reporting channels. Only 10 per cent were removed
Internal company documents, made public as part of a lawsuit brought by the State of Utah (United States), show that in January 2022 alone, more than 112,000 users aged between 13 and 15 went live. Those same internal reports had already warned of the risk of grooming by adults and sexual exploitation, demonstrating that the multinational has been aware of this vulnerability for years.
Legal action and publication
In light of the platform’s failure to act and its possible breach of child protection and digital services legislation, Maldita.es has submitted all the evidence it has gathered to the Cybercrime Prosecution Service. The journalistic investigation, which is divided into several parts, begins publication today and will continue throughout the week.
At the same time, the publication has issued an editorial statement explaining its decision to publish this investigation. Despite the sensitive nature of the issue, Maldita.es emphasises the need to alert the public to what is happening openly on a platform widely used by minors. The organisation is calling on the public to raise awareness of this situation and to encourage families to talk to their children about the risks associated with TikTok.
