Elon Musk and Telegram’s Durov Criticize Spain’s Proposed Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has unveiled plans to prohibit social media access for users under 16, alongside measures to prosecute platform executives for hate speech. The announcement, made at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, frames social media as a 'failed state' requiring stringent controls to safeguard minors.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov swiftly condemned the proposal, warning of its potential to erode internet freedoms and establish mass surveillance. The Spanish government retaliated by accusing Durov of disseminating propaganda to Telegram’s user base in the country.
Elon Musk escalated the discourse, branding Sánchez a 'tyrant and a traitor to the people of Spain.' The controversy places Spain alongside nations like Britain, Greece, and Australia in pursuing tighter social media regulations, signaling a global pivot toward heightened digital oversight.
