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TikTok Faces Shutdown In Spain After More Than 1,000 Child Abuse Videos Found On The App

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Prosecutors will decide whether TikTok should be suspended in Spain. Credit: BongkarnGraphic / Shutterstock

More than 1,000 videos and images showing the sexual abuse of children were found circulating on TikTok over just five weeks, racking up 48 million views between them. When a sample was reported through the app’s own tools, only one in 10 came down, and Spain’s government is now asking prosecutors whether the platform should be switched off altogether.

Only five of 50 reported videos were taken down 

The figures come from an investigation by Maldita.es, a Spanish non-profit fact-checking foundation, published on Monday November 9, with researchers tracking the material between September 11 and October 15. In that time they logged 1,182 videos and images linked to 231 profiles, and the oldest one still online had been posted back in June.

So they put TikTok’s reporting system to the test. They flagged 50 of the videos as illegal content, which between them had been watched 8.8 million times and collected more than 148,000 likes.

Just five were removed. Another 13 were blocked in Spain only, meaning they could still be watched from other countries, while in 58 per cent of cases the platform replied that the videos didn’t break the law or its own rules. More than half of those were then taken down within 72 hours anyway.

TikTok’s own policy says accounts sharing this kind of material are banned permanently. However, by October 15, 136 of the 231 profiles, or 59 per cent, were still active.

Some of the accounts were being used as shop windows, pointing viewers towards messaging apps where the material was being sold. The researchers also said the app’s recommendation algorithm kept leading them to more of the same content the longer they looked. 

Why ministers are now talking about switching TikTok off 

On the same day the investigation was published, the Ministerio de Juventud e Infancia (Ministry of Youth and Children) led by Sira Rego, sent the findings to the State Prosecutor’s Office. Its letter asks prosecutors to act to protect any children and teenagers who may be affected, and raises the possibility of suspending TikTok’s services in Spain if they consider it appropriate.

Ministry sources described the findings as extremely serious and pointed to serious shortcomings in the way the platform detects and moderates content, as well as the role its algorithms play in spreading it. They said that could amount to a breach of children’s rights by the platform itself. 

Rego has also requested an urgent meeting with TikTok’s representatives in Spain to hear what they’ve done so far and what they plan to do next. 

TikTok hasn’t yet made a public statement, and according to Maldita.es, the company only asked for more information when approached before publication and didn’t answer its questions about the failures found.

A shutdown is still a long way from certain

Nothing has been decided yet, though. It’s now down to prosecutors to study the case, and any order to block an app used so widely in Spain would be a huge step that would have to stand up legally. TikTok is also one of the very large platforms policed by the European Commission under the EU’s Digital Services Act, which is why the ministry is calling for a joint response from Spanish and European authorities.

It isn’t the first time the government has gone after the social media giants on this issue either. Back in February, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez asked prosecutors to investigate X, Meta and TikTok over AI-generated child abuse material, saying: “The impunity of these giants must end.”

Meanwhile, Spain’s child digital protection law, which would stop under-16s opening social media accounts, is still working its way through Congress. Changes agreed by the governing parties in September could also leave platform bosses criminally liable if they know about content like this and fail to act.

What parents can do in the meantime

For now, TikTok is still up and running in Spain, so the most immediate protection sits with families.

It’s worth sitting down with children to check who can see their videos and who can message them, and TikTok’s own Family Pairing feature lets a parent link their account to a teenager’s to set limits on content and contact.

Anyone who comes across this kind of material should never download, screenshot or forward it, even to warn others, as sharing it is a crime in itself. Instead, report it in the app and to the Policía Nacional or the Guardia Civil.

For advice on keeping children safe online, families can also call 017, the free helpline run by INCIBE, Spain’s National Cybersecurity Institute.

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Motril Goes Into Overdrive With More Than 400 Classics

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Classic car show. Credit: Magneto

A charity car gathering in Motril is set to bring more than 400 vehicles together, with the event raising funds to give disadvantaged children a summer break in 2027. It follows other charity car gatherings in Andalucia which have brought motoring enthusiasts together to support worthwhile causes.

The first Concentración Solidaria de Motril will take place at the town’s Recinto Ferial on Saturday, November 14. Organised by Mijitas Racing Club and charity INPAVI, the event is expected to attract classic cars, sports and rally vehicles, customised models, motorcycles and trucks. The region has previously hosted other charity classic car rallies in Spain, as well as popular classic car events in Malaga Province.

Fast and Furious “drift” event

Visitors will also be able to see cars inspired by the Fast & Furious films, while a drift zone is planned for controlled driving demonstrations. Entry for the public is free, making the gathering an option for motoring enthusiasts.

Money raised will support INPAVI’s Educa Vida summer camp, which provides activities and support for children from families facing financial difficulties. Motril Town Hall says the fundraising target is to provide places for 80 children in 2027.

The summer scheme gives children a safe and structured place to go when school closes. Activities include educational support, social activities and daily meals, helping families who may struggle to afford organised childcare and holiday activities. The University of Granada’s information about Educa Vida explains the programme’s educational and social objectives.

Raffle, competitions and foodtrucks

More than 50 volunteers from INPAVI teams in Motril, Granada and Malaga are expected to help run the event. A charity raffle will offer prizes worth more than €900, while children can enjoy bouncy castles, face painting, drawing and games.

Food stalls are also planned, with burgers, hot dogs, kebabs, baked potatoes, waffles and sweets available. Vehicle exhibitors will pay €15 to enter their cars or motorcycles, with seven categories of prizes due to be awarded at 4pm.

The gathering runs from 10am to 5pm at the Recinto Ferial. Motril’s official event announcement and the official tourism calendar provide further details for anyone planning to attend. Organisers hope the combination of unusual vehicles, family activities and fundraising will draw a large crowd and help give local children a summer experience they might otherwise miss.

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Salobreña Marches Against Cancer: Around 700 People Join First Colourful Charity Event

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Salobreña turns pink. Credit: Ayto

Around 700 people took to the streets of Salobreña on Sunday, November 8, to support the fight against cancer at the town’s first Salobreña en Marcha contra el Cáncer.

Organised by the local branch of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), the charity event brought together residents of all ages for a colourful show of community support.

Event a show of community support

Rather than being a competitive sporting event, the initiative was designed to encourage people to get involved, enjoy themselves and contribute to an important cause. Participants joined the colourful march, helping raise funds for the AECC’s work supporting people affected by cancer, as well as its prevention programmes and scientific research.

The association provides practical and emotional assistance to cancer patients and their families, including psychological support, social services and help with financial difficulties that can accompany treatment. Research funding is another important part of its work, helping scientists develop better ways to prevent, detect and treat the disease.

The impressive turnout was particularly encouraging given that this was the first edition of the Salobreña event. Organisers had hoped to bring the community together behind the cause, and the 700 participants demonstrated considerable local support.

Pink wave sweeps through Salobreña

The march had originally been planned for October 18 but was postponed because of the weather, eventually taking place on November 8. Similar initiatives have attracted strong support elsewhere in southern Spain, including the Mijas Marea Rosa walk and cancer awareness activities in Nerja.

Salobreña’s streets were filled with colour on Sunday, but the message behind the event was serious: cancer affects families across the community, and local support can make a meaningful difference.

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Deadly Fog Causes Bulgaria’s Largest Motorway Pile-Up As 86 Vehicles Crash, 12 Dead

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The collisions continued as vehicles approached the scene in poor visibility. Photo credit:@volkova_ma57183 on X

Thick fog can be every driver’s nightmare, but when it descends without warning, the danger is even greater. With visibility suddenly reduced to just a few metres, there may be no time to brake or avoid the traffic ahead. That is what happened on Bulgaria’s Trakia Motorway, where dozens vehicles were caught up in two devastating pile-ups.

The wreckage stretched across both carriageways of the motorway linking Sofia with the Black Sea port of Burgas. Cars and lorries were crushed together, emergency crews had to fight their way into the pile-ups, and the route was closed in both directions as rescuers worked to reach those trapped. 

Fog turns motorway into scene of mass collision

The first emergency call was received at around 7.10am local time on Tuesday, November 10. The crashes happened near the Zimnitsa junction in the Yambol region, in southeastern Bulgaria. A total of 86 vehicles were involved. Sixty-three were caught in the pile-up on the carriageway towards Burgas, while another 23 were involved in a separate collision on the opposite side, heading towards Sofia.

Officials said visibility had initially been between 70 and 80 metres before suddenly dropping to around 10 metres. The fog arrived quickly, leaving drivers with little warning of the stationary or slowing traffic ahead. The road surface was also wet, adding to the difficulty of stopping safely. 

First collision involved lorry and passenger bus

According to the initial account from the Interior Ministry, the first crash began on the Burgas-bound carriageway when a lorry blocked the path of a passenger bus. A second lorry, which was carrying grain, then became involved, followed by further vehicles crashing into the wreckage.

The collisions continued as vehicles approached the scene in poor visibility. A second chain-reaction crash developed on the opposite carriageway, where investigators believe some drivers may have become distracted by the disaster unfolding across the central reservation.

All the reported fatalities occurred on the side heading towards Burgas. Authorities have stressed that the precise causes are still being investigated, although the sudden fog, wet conditions and driving speeds unsuitable for the weather are among the factors being examined.

Drone footage reveals the horrifying scale of the tragedy on Bulgaria’s Trakia Motorway. Over 50 vehicles, including cars and trucks, were involved in the massive pile-up, leaving at least 12 people dead and dozens injured. One of Bulgaria’s deadliest road disasters. 😭 https://t.co/NfyVJyGotH

— една българка (@transbulgaria) November 10, 2026

Rescue teams work among wrecked vehicles

The scale of the crash required a major emergency operation. Police, firefighters and medical teams from neighbouring regions were sent to the scene, with 15 fire engines and hundreds of police officers involved in the response. Rescuers had to remove sections of the crash barriers to reach some of the injured. The fog also prevented helicopter evacuations, complicating efforts to move casualties quickly.

Injured people were taken to hospitals in Yambol, Sliven and Burgas, with several requiring intensive care and emergency surgery. The latest figures released on Tuesday afternoon put the death toll at 12, while around 50 people had been injured. Officials had warned earlier that the number of casualties could change as hospitals continued treating those involved. 

Bulgaria declares national day of mourning

Prime Minister Rumen Radev visited the scene and described the crashes as a tragedy for the country. The government announced that Wednesday, November 11, would be a national day of mourning for those who died.The scale of the disaster also disrupted official engagements. Radev cancelled scheduled events, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was visiting Bulgaria, shortened her trip and expressed condolences to the victims and emergency crews. 

Two separate investigations have been opened because the crashes occurred on opposite carriageways. The National Investigation Service is expected to take over the enquiries, with investigators examining how the first collision developed and why the second pile-up followed.

The tragedy has also renewed questions about warnings for drivers in areas where fog regularly forms. Officials have raised the possibility of improving road markings and installing more reflective measures to make dangerous stretches easier to navigate when visibility deteriorates. For now, investigators must establish exactly how a sudden change in weather turned a busy motorway into Bulgaria’s worst multi-vehicle disasters.

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