Spain plans to bar children under 16 from using social media and introduce laws that would hold platform executives personally responsible for hate speech, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Tuesday.
The proposal marks Spain’s toughest move yet against online harms and places it among a growing group of countries tightening oversight of digital platforms amid concerns about child safety and public discourse.
Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Sanchez said children were being left to navigate online spaces without adequate protection and that governments must step in.
“Our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone,” Sanchez said, adding that Spain would no longer accept the status quo. He described the online environment as a “digital Wild West” and urged other European nations to follow Spain’s lead.
Spain’s plan follows similar efforts in Europe and beyond. Britain and France are weighing stricter age rules and platform accountability, while Australia became the first country to ban access to social media for children under 16 in December.
Across Europe, regulators have increasingly focused on how extended screen time affects children’s mental health and development, as well as the spread of hate speech and harmful material online.
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Sanchez said Spain had joined five other European countries in what he called a “Coalition of the Digitally Willing,” aimed at coordinating cross border regulation and enforcement. He said the group would hold its first meeting in the coming days but did not name the participating countries. “This is a battle that goes far beyond the boundaries of any single country,” Sanchez said.
Under Spain’s proposal, senior executives at social media companies could face personal liability if their platforms fail to curb hate speech. While full legislative details have not yet been released, the approach signals a shift toward individual accountability rather than corporate fines alone.
Sanchez, one of Europe’s few remaining centre left leaders, has repeatedly criticized technology company owners. Last year, he said they should be held responsible for the societal damage caused by the way online content is promoted and amplified.
Major platforms including X, Google, TikTok, Snapchat and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Spain’s announcement.
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The move comes as the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which took full effect in early 2024, requires large online platforms to remove illegal content and better protect users. Supporters say the rules improve accountability, while critics warn of blurred lines between regulation and censorship.
Recent controversies involving automated image tools producing harmful and unlawful content have further intensified the debate, particularly around child safety online.
In Spain, opposition voices have already raised concerns. Pepa Millan, parliamentary spokesperson for the far right Vox party, said the proposed measures could be used to suppress criticism of the government. Vox relies heavily on social media to reach supporters.