TLDR
- Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced plans to ban social media for users under 16 and prosecute platform executives for hate speech
- Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticized the proposal, saying it creates a mass surveillance state and threatens internet freedoms
- The Spanish government defended the measures, accusing Durov of spreading propaganda to Spanish Telegram users
- Elon Musk also condemned the proposal, calling Sánchez “a tyrant and a traitor to the people of Spain”
- Spain joins countries like Britain, Greece, France and Australia in pursuing stricter social media regulations
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced Tuesday that the country will implement online age verification policies and ban social media access for individuals under 16. The announcement came during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Spain will ban access to social media for minors under 16 and platforms will be required to implement age verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said as he announced several measures to guarantee a safe digital environment https://t.co/f50UI4ghcX pic.twitter.com/qHIcZLYKzK
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 3, 2026
Sánchez stated that social media has become a failed state. He said the only way to protect children is to take back control of these platforms.
The proposed legislation goes beyond age restrictions. It would also allow the prosecution of platform executives for hate speech on their services.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov responded to the announcement on Wednesday with sharp criticism. He sent a message to Spanish Telegram users calling the measures dangerous new regulations that threaten internet freedoms.
Durov said the Spanish government is pushing policies that could turn Spain into a surveillance state under the guise of protection. He wrote that these measures are not safeguards but steps toward total control.
Government Defense and Counter-Accusations
The Spanish Prime Minister’s office defended the proposed laws. Officials said Durov’s mass message to all Spanish Telegram users demonstrated the urgent need to regulate social media and messaging apps.
The government accused Durov of taking advantage of his unrestricted control of Telegram. They said he flooded Spanish phones with propaganda after the government announced measures to protect minors and enforce the law.
The Prime Minister’s office stated that Spaniards cannot live in a world where foreign tech oligarchs can spread propaganda at will. They said Durov was spreading lies about the proposed regulations.
Durov argued that the proposed law would force social media platforms to gather data on all users. He said measures to curb hate speech would prompt platforms to strip content to avoid prosecution.
The Telegram founder specifically criticized plans to criminalize algorithms deemed to be amplifying harmful content. He said this would allow governments to control what users see online.
Durov claimed governments weaponize safety concerns to censor critics. He warned the proposal would lead to increased government-led censorship and breaches of privacy through de-anonymizing users.
International Reactions and Similar Measures
Elon Musk, owner of X, also condemned Sánchez’s proposed measures. He described the Spanish Prime Minister in a post Monday as “a tyrant and a traitor to the people of Spain.”
Privacy advocates and technology experts raised concerns about the proposal. Some argue that current age verification methods are counterproductive and drive users to circumvent controls using virtual private networks.
Boris Bohrer-Bilowitzki, CEO of blockchain Concordium, suggested blockchain technology could be used for age verification. He said it could prove personhood in a cryptographically secure way without revealing specific identity contents.
Journalist Taylor Lorenz urged people worldwide to fight against online age verification laws. She said none of these measures are about protecting children.
Sánchez has been criticizing technology platforms since early last year. He previously proposed ending anonymity on social media and linking user data to a common EU identity wallet.
His campaign against disinformation began after what he described as a right-wing smear campaign against his family. His wife, Begona Gomez, is under investigation for allegations of influence peddling, which she denies.
Global Trend Toward Stricter Rules
Spain joins several countries pursuing tougher stances on social media. Britain, Greece and France are all considering similar measures.
Australia became the first nation in December to prohibit social media access for children younger than 16. The Australian law set a precedent for age-based restrictions on social platforms.
Durov was detained in Paris in August 2024 over alleged criminal activities on Telegram. In March 2025, he denied any wrongdoing related to those allegations.
The Spanish proposal includes provisions to prosecute platform executives for content on their services. This represents a shift toward holding individual leaders accountable for platform activity.
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