Sources from the Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office indicate that two investigations are underway into cases where real images of minors were altered with artificial intelligence to create sexual content. These are the only two open cases in the Barcelona province. One involves a suspect, the other a perpetrator who remains unidentified. The National Police reported an arrest in Súria, in the Bages region. In October, a 17-year-old student of computer science was charged with producing, possessing and distributing child pornography after taking photos of minors from a window and retouching them with AI technology to disseminate them online.
At this time, the Barcelona Public Prosecutor’s Office has not received complaints about AI use against adults, as confirmed by María Jesús Méndez, the prosecutorial delegate for gender-based violence services. The juvenile office is examining two related matters, though sources declined to share specifics because they involve minors. Researchers have struggled to secure conclusive evidence in these cases. It is noted that most companies offering this technology operate abroad, making international assistance or rogatory commissions necessary to obtain information. For investigations, timely access to the suspect’s computer is essential.
An illustrative police operation led to the arrest of a Syrian teenager. A home search uncovered numerous files of child pornography, including explicit material and images taken of children through windows. Investigators confirmed the files were created by the detainee inside his own residence. He used AI to remove clothing from the images and then circulated them online. Police sources say the suspect had been committing offenses since age 14 and was handed over to the juvenile prosecutor’s office, likely tied to one of the two ongoing cases.
The inquiry began after authorities identified more than 300 predator-related files circulating on social networks and messaging apps. The individual responsible distributed vast amounts of material and offered to convert any uploaded photo. Once located, officers determined that the offender was a 17-year-old youth, thus a minor. The most prominent case in Spain recently emerged in October in Almendralejo, Extremadura, following numerous complaints from families of young children.
Revenge porn
Separately, the Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office reports numerous instances of revenge porn—sharing intimate images of former partners. In 2023 alone, the gender-violence prevention service, led by Méndez, filed three charges, though many cases are handled as threats, coercion or harassment. In some instances, victims are pressured to publish private photos, with no further action taken. Publishing intimate images of a former partner can account for roughly 10% of threats related to gender-based violence, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutor Méndez notes that gender-based violence cases have risen. While there was a dip during the Covid lockdown, activity surged again in subsequent months, with increases tied to post-quarantine stressors. She argues that public concern and reporting incentives help reveal hidden crime levels, but confirms that obtaining a conviction can be challenging when victims withdraw complaints or refuse to testify against a current or former partner. In 2022, the Violence Against Women Prosecutor’s Office handled over 10,000 cases, including 1,398 breaches of protective or restraining orders.