Spain Announces Measures to Regulate Social Media Platforms

(MENAFN) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez unveiled sweeping regulatory measures targeting social media corporations and bolstering child safety protocols, declaring that digital platforms have facilitated criminal operations, propaganda networks, and dangerous material.

In a video statement posted to the US-based social platform X Friday evening, Sanchez characterized recent events as a historic inflection point for Spain's democratic institutions.

"This week, something unprecedented in the history of our democracies has happened: a tech oligarch has infiltrated the phones of millions of Spanish citizens to tell them what to think," he said. "This is a serious example of the abuses of interference that we are trying to combat."

The prime minister condemned social media environments for having "become a kind of Wild West in a failed state," asserting that such platforms harbor thousands of channels facilitating illicit activities involving pornography and violence.

Sanchez also condemned the weaponization of artificial intelligence technology.

"We have seen how artificial intelligence is being used by these applications to create fake nudes, even of minors, how they spy on us, how they steal our data, and how the platforms rake in profits by amplifying hate and disinformation," he said.

The Spanish leader outlined five enforcement initiatives "to protect minors and end impunity in digital environments." The framework includes coordinating with the Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate social media-based crimes, prosecuting algorithmic manipulation exploiting personal information without authorization, and filing criminal complaints against corporations refusing to eliminate prohibited content.

Further actions encompass establishing "the first database of hate and polarization" and implementing age restrictions barring platform access for users below 16 years old.

"We know that this tech elite has more money and even more power than many countries, but our determination is stronger than their pockets," Sanchez said and concluded: "So we are going to move forward despite their threats."

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