The statement by Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the World Governments Summit in Dubai represents a significant escalation in the global regulatory war against social media conglomerates.
By aiming to ban children under 16 from these platforms, Spain is addressing the “epidemic of digital addiction” and the exposure of minors to pornography, violence, and manipulation. Sánchez’s vision goes beyond simple filtering; it demands “real barriers” for age verification and, most notably, legal accountability for executives.
Editorial Perspectives
This move signals that nations are no longer willing to accept the externalized social costs of the tech industry’s growth.
This legislative push aligns with a broader international trend. From the United States to the United Kingdom, governments are grappling with the mental health crisis exacerbated by predatory algorithms.
However, Spain‘s direct threat to hold executives personally liable for hate speech and illegal content marks a shift from fines to potential criminal prosecution.
The message is clear: the digital playground must be governed by the same human rights standards as the physical world. As Spain moves to implement these changes, it sets a precedent that could redefine how children across the European Union and the globe interact with the digital landscape.
