Daijiworld Media Network – Madrid
Madrid, Feb 5: Telegram founder Pavel Durov on Wednesday joined billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk in sharply criticising Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s proposed plans to restrict access to social media for children under the age of 16 and to hold platform executives criminally liable for hate speech.
In a strongly worded message shared on Telegram, Durov warned that the measures went beyond safeguarding minors and posed a threat to free expression. “These aren’t safeguards; they’re steps toward total control. We’ve seen this playbook before – governments weaponising ‘safety’ to censor critics,” he wrote.
The Spanish Prime Minister’s Office hit back, defending the proposals and accusing Durov of spreading misinformation. Officials said his mass message to Telegram users in Spain itself demonstrated the need for stronger regulation of digital platforms, alleging that he used his “unrestricted control” over the app to circulate misleading claims.
“Spaniards cannot live in a world where foreign tech oligarchs can flood our phones with propaganda at their will simply because the government has announced measures to protect minors and enforce the law,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Prime Minister Sanchez, one of the few remaining left-wing leaders in Europe, has been increasingly vocal against technology platforms. Since early last year, he has advocated ending anonymity on social media and linking user data to a common European Union digital identity wallet.
Government sources said Sanchez’s broader campaign against online disinformation was triggered by what he described as a right-wing smear campaign targeting his family. This followed an investigation into allegations of influence peddling involving his wife, Begona Gomez, which she has denied. The case is still under investigation.
Spain has now joined countries such as Britain, Greece and France in considering stricter controls on social media platforms. Australia became the first country in December to ban access to social media for children under 16.
Russian-born Durov was detained in Paris in August 2024 over alleged criminal activities linked to Telegram, accusations he has consistently denied. In March 2025, he again rejected any wrongdoing. His recent message on Spain’s proposals was reportedly forwarded from an account bearing his name to a Telegram channel that typically provides users with security and account-related updates.
Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, also condemned the Spanish government’s plans, branding Sanchez “a tyrant and a traitor to the people of Spain” in a post earlier this week.
Meanwhile, representatives of major tech firms including Google, TikTok, Snapchat and Meta did not respond to requests for comment on Spain’s proposed measures.