Maldita.es finds thousands of child abuse videos on TikTok with 48 million views

Maldita.es spent 35 days navigating TikTok as a predator would, training its algorithm, using its search engine, joining livestreams hosted by minors, and following sellers of child sexual abuse material to Telegram and Zangi. The investigation ran from September 11 to October 15, 2026.

Researchers identified more than 200 profiles that posted over 1,000 videos and images containing explicit child sexual abuse content. Those posts amassed 48 million views. El Diari de la Sanitat reports 231 profiles and 1,183 explicit contents.

“We have walked through TikTok as a predator would, and the conclusion is that the abuse is not hidden in a little corner nor is it difficult to find. Quite the opposite: it relies on the platform’s own tools to flourish and become known.”

The team recorded 12,068 predatory comments in Spanish from 7,725 different accounts. At least 55 comments specified that users possessed their own abuse material, and many accounts openly said the material featured their own children, siblings, nephews, or nieces.

Maldita.es contacted 12 accounts through TikTok direct messages. Eight claimed to possess child sexual abuse material, and four said they had material involving their own children, cousins, or nephews; some said they were from Spain or were willing to video-call the child in their care.

The outlet reported a sample of 50 videos to TikTok as illegal content. TikTok removed only five, or 10 percent, and blocked 13, or 26 percent, in Spain alone. The reported videos had accumulated 8.8 million views and over 148,000 likes. Seventy-two hours after reporting, 38 percent of the accounts that posted them were still active.

As of October 15, 2026, 136 of the 231 analyzed accounts, or 59 percent, remained active despite TikTok policies stating that accounts posting child sexual abuse material are permanently prohibited. Maldita.es has submitted all evidence to the Spanish Prosecutor’s Office for Computer Crime.