Spain intends to move forward with new regulations designed to make social networks and artificial intelligence systems safer, the country's digital transformation minister said. The plan faces vigorous opposition from powerful technology companies, but officials in Madrid contend public rights should not be sacrificed to private profit.
"The profit of four tech companies cannot come at the expense of the rights of millions," said Oscar Lopez, emphasising that influential voices are lobbying against proposals that would limit high-risk AI systems and require companies to reveal aspects of their social media algorithms.
Lopez's remarks align with recent statements from other European leaders targeting social media design practices that can foster addiction and harm users. Spanish authorities are pursuing several legislative avenues in parallel. In February, the government announced measures to prohibit social media use by teenagers - a bill that is currently progressing through parliament - and proposed laws to hold platform executives personally accountable for hate speech occurring on their services.
The proposals have drawn outspoken criticism from some platform owners. For example, X's owner publicly denounced Spain's approach, characterising the country's prime minister with harsh language.
Madrid is advocating for a common European framework, arguing that enforcement is simpler across a bloc of more than 400 million citizens than through disparate national rules. Lopez warned that champions of a laissez-faire stance could later regret defending what he described as "the law of the jungle."
Officials link the regulatory push to a rise in concerns about cyberbullying, sexual harassment and AI-generated sexual deepfakes targeting children, particularly girls. Lopez described the toll on minors' wellbeing as akin to a mental health pandemic and framed Spain's stance as promoting "trustworthy AI" - an approach prioritising privacy, democratic integrity, protection of minors and public safety over speed or profit.
When questioned about online anonymity, Lopez said that using a pseudonym should not shield individuals from responsibility if they commit crimes. "What isn’t legal in the real world cannot be legal in the virtual world. Full stop," he said, underscoring the government’s position that virtual spaces must comply with the same legal standards as offline environments.
Spain's push signals a willingness to confront major tech firms on accountability and transparency, while urging a unified regulatory response across Europe to address the risks the government identifies in social media and certain AI applications.