Telegram founder Pavel Durov has criticised Spain’s proposed plans to regulate social media platforms. He joined Elon Musk in opposing the measures announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The proposal includes banning access to social media for children under 16. It also suggests prosecuting platform executives for hate speech. Another part of the plan targets algorithms accused of promoting harmful content.
In a message sent to Telegram users, Durov warned about the wider impact of these steps. He said blocking young users would force social media companies to collect personal data from all users. He added that this could weaken privacy protections.
Durov also raised concerns about hate speech laws. He said platforms may remove large amounts of content to avoid legal risks. According to him, this could limit free expression online.
He criticised the idea of criminalising certain algorithms. Durov said such rules could allow governments to control what people see. He described the plan as a move toward excessive state control.
“These are not safety measures,” Durov wrote. “They can be used to silence criticism.” He added that governments often use safety arguments to justify censorship.
Spain’s government strongly rejected his remarks. In an official response, it said Durov’s message to Spanish users was unusual and misleading. The government stressed the need to regulate social media to protect citizens from propaganda and harmful content.
Prime Minister Sanchez said the plan aligns with a group of European countries. He referred to it as a “Coalition of the Digitally Willing.” These countries aim to clean up social media platforms.
Sanchez has criticized technology companies for over a year. He earlier proposed ending anonymity on social media. He also suggested linking user data to a shared European digital identity.
His campaign against disinformation intensified after claims of a smear campaign. The issue followed an investigation involving his wife. She denies the allegations, and the case is ongoing.
Spain is not alone in this debate. Britain, France, and Greece are also considering tougher rules on social media. Australia already banned access for children under 16 in December.
Elon Musk also attacked the Spanish plan. On X, he called Sanchez a tyrant. Musk owns the platform and often criticizes content regulation.
Durov, who lives in Dubai, was detained in Paris in August 2024. The case involved alleged illegal activity on Telegram. He denied all charges in March.
In other news read more about Spain to Ban Social Media Access for Minors Under 16
Major tech companies have not commented on Spain’s proposal. The debate over social media regulation in Europe continues to grow.
