Spain wants to ban young people from networks, create rules for AI and punish big techs

The proposed measures include the banning the use of social networks by teenagers and the direct criminal liability of executives for hate speech on their platforms. The project, which is already being processed in the Spanish parliament, focuses on combating virtual harassment and deepfakes of sexual content generated by AI, which the government classifies as a “mental health pandemic”.

Government of Spain defends ‘trustworthy AI’ and the end of impunity in the virtual environment

Lopez said “powerful voices” have been speaking out against rules that limit high-risk AI systems and require the opening of the functioning of algorithms. For the minister, “the profits of four technology companies cannot come at the expense of the rights of millions”.

The country’s strict stance has drawn severe criticism from Elon Musk owner of X/Twitter (among other companies). The billionaire labeled Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as a “tyrant” and “totalitarian”.

Spain positions itself alongside nations like Australia and France in tightening regulations, while the European Commission targets regulatory practices addictive design and harmful effects in its future Digital Equity Act.

The minister defends a common European approach to facilitate the application of standards in a bloc of 400 million citizenswhich would give more strength to inspection than individual actions by each country.

Lopez warned that advocates of a “hands-off” approach may later regret upholding what he called the “law of the jungle.”

Regarding the use of pseudonyms, the government maintains that anonymity should not serve as a shield for those who commit crimes online. “What is not legal in the real world cannot be legal in the virtual world,” said Lopez when defending that authorities be able to identify offenders in the digital environment.