Report: 1 in 5 Spanish youths victimized by AI-generated deepfakes
A shocking report reveals that one in five Spanish teenagers has fallen victim to artificial intelligence (AI)-generated nude deepfakes – fake, digitally manipulated images designed to appear real – shared online without their consent.
The study conducted by the non-governmental organization Save the Children exposes a disturbing trend in which minors are increasingly targeted by sexual predators using advanced AI tools. Nearly all respondents (97 percent) reported experiencing some form of online sexual abuse before turning 18.
The findings were based on a survey of over 1,000 young adults aged 18 to 21. They highlight a crisis unfolding in the digital shadows, where technology outpaces regulation and leaves children vulnerable to exploitation.
AI is now being weaponized against minors. Deepfake technology uses AI to superimpose a person’s face onto explicit images or videos, creating hyper-realistic forgeries.
Unlike traditional “revenge porn”, where real images are leaked, deepfakes fabricate nudity from innocent photos often sourced from virtual communication networks. Victims who are unaware until it’s too late find themselves powerless as their digitally altered likeness circulates online.
The report underscores that 20 percent of Spanish youth surveyed had AI-generated nude images of themselves shared without permission before they turned 18. Worse yet, many cases go unreported due to shame, fear, or lack of legal recourse.
Alarmingly, the study found that nearly half of young respondents saw no risk in sharing intimate images, while many did so seeking validation or affection. This normalization of risky behaviour plays into the hands of predators. Girls are disproportionately targeted – 36 percent reported unwanted sexual contact with adults online, compared to 26 percent of boys.
One harrowing case involved a 12-year-old girl in Alicante who was blackmailed with AI-generated nudes unless she forwarded a sexually explicit video. Though she had never shared such content, she blamed herself – a tragic example of how predators manipulate young victims into silence.
Legal gaps and the failure of digital safeguards
Like much of Europe, Spain lacks comprehensive laws addressing AI-generated exploitation. While traditional child pornography is criminalized, deepfake abuse exists in a legal grey area.
Save the Children warns that current protections are woefully inadequate, leaving minors exposed to blackmail, harassment and psychological trauma. The organization is urging lawmakers to:
- Strengthen penalties for AI-generated sexual abuse material.
- Mandate stricter age verification on virtual communication platforms.
- Implement digital literacy programs in schools to teach minors about online risks.
This crisis is not Spain’s first encounter with digital abuse. Over the past decade, cyberbullying and “revenge porn” scandals have plagued schools, prompting some legal reforms.
However, AI’s rapid evolution has outstripped legislative responses. Unlike past threats, deepfakes require no original compromising material, making them harder to prevent and easier to weaponize.
The Save the Children report is a wake-up call. If unchecked, AI-driven exploitation will escalate, leaving an entire generation scarred by digital violations they never consented to. Parents, educators and lawmakers need to act not just with reactive measures, but with proactive safeguards that keep pace with the technology the kids and teens are using.
yogaesoteric
July 22, 2025