Telegram founder Pavel Durov has joined Elon Musk in opposing Spain’s proposed Spain social media restrictions. The plan would ban users under 16 from social media. Moreover, it would hold tech executives criminally liable for hate speech on their platforms.
In a message to all Spanish Telegram users, Durov warned that the law could erode digital freedoms. He added that it might enable government overreach. Specifically, he said the rules would force platforms to collect personal data from every user to verify age. As a result, he argued, user privacy would suffer.
Furthermore, he claimed the hate speech provisions would push companies to over-censor content. Why? To avoid legal penalties. “These aren’t safeguards; they’re steps toward total control,” he wrote. “We’ve seen this playbook before—governments weaponizing ‘safety’ to censor critics.”
The Spanish Prime Minister’s office responded strongly. In fact, it called Durov’s mass message clear proof that regulation is urgently needed. Additionally, the office accused him of using his “unrestricted control” of Telegram to spread misinformation. “Spaniards cannot live in a world where foreign tech oligarchs flood our phones with propaganda at will,” it stated.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez first proposed ending online anonymity last year. At that time, he suggested linking user accounts to a common EU digital identity. His push intensified after what he described as a right-wing smear campaign against his wife, Begona Gomez. She faces unproven allegations of influence peddling, and the case remains ongoing.
Sanchez argues that unchecked disinformation threatens both families and democracy. Notably, he is one of Europe’s few remaining leftist leaders.
Spain is not acting alone. On the contrary, the UK, France, and Greece are also considering stricter online rules. In December 2025, Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16. Now, Spain appears ready to follow suit.
However, critics like Durov warn these laws risk normalizing surveillance. They also fear such measures could weaken free expression.
Durov’s stance carries extra weight due to his past. Originally from Russia, he was detained in Paris in August 2024 over alleged criminal activity on Telegram. Yet, he denied any wrongdoing in March 2025. His recent message came from an official account usually reserved for security updates—showing just how seriously he views the issue.
Elon Musk, owner of X, has also condemned the plan. Earlier this week, he called Sanchez “a tyrant and a traitor to the people of Spain.”
Meanwhile, major platforms—including Google, Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat—have not commented publicly on the proposed Spain social media restrictions. Their silence may reflect caution amid growing regulatory pressure across Europe.
Ultimately, the key question remains: Can governments protect young users without sacrificing privacy and free speech? According to Durov and Musk, Spain’s approach crosses that line. They believe it sets a dangerous precedent for digital rights worldwide—and one that other democracies should resist.
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