Social media ban in Spain is a step towards mass surveillance, Telegram CEO warns
Pavel Durov, Co-Founder and CEO of Telegram, expresses his concerns about the Spanish government’s plans to introduce age restrictions and age verification for social media.
Under the guise of protecting children, he claims that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is pushing “dangerous” new regulations that will push Spain into a surveillance state that will pose a threat to the freedom of speech and privacy.
“This isn’t just about kids; it requires platforms to use strict checks, like needing IDs or biometrics,” Durov says in a message on his Telegram channel. He’s worried that this will set a precedent for tracking every user’s identity, eroding anonymity, and opening doors to mass data collection.
“What starts with minors could expand to all, stifling open discourse,” he states.
Spain also intends to prosecute social media platform executives if illegal, hateful, or harmful content isn’t removed fast enough.
“This will force over-censorship; platforms will delete anything remotely controversial to avoid risks, silencing political dissent, journalism, and everyday opinions. Your voice could be next if it challenges the status quo,” Telegram’s CEO warns.
Another thing that worries Durov is the way the Spanish government intends to tackle algorithms, burying opposing views and replacing them with “curated propaganda.” This will be the end of free exploration of ideas.
Lastly, the Co-Founder of Telegram is concerned that authorities will use vague definitions of ‘hate speech’ to silence criticism of the government, thus censoring the opposition.
“These aren’t safeguards; they’re steps toward total control. We’ve seen this playbook before; governments weaponizing ‘safety’ to censor critics. On Telegram, we prioritize your privacy and freedom: strong encryption, no backdoors, and resistance to overreach,” Durov emphasizes.
He concludes his message by recommending that people stay vigilant, demand transparency, and fight for their rights.