Overview
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s proposal bans social media for under‑16s with strict age verification and is expected to reach Spain’s Council of Ministers next week.
- The European Commission voiced support for efforts to hold platforms accountable, saying it stands in solidarity with member states pursuing tougher oversight.
- Telegram founder Pavel Durov sent a nationwide alert to Spanish users warning of censorship and surveillance, prompting a government response accusing him of spreading propaganda.
- X owner Elon Musk attacked the plan in posts targeting Sánchez, while Spain’s youth minister Sira Rego suggested the country may need to limit or even ban access to X over alleged rights violations.
- The initiative includes potential criminal liability for executives and penalties for algorithmic amplification of illegal content, which legal analysts say could be difficult to enforce and may drive over‑removal.