On Tuesday February 3rd, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez gave a speech at the World Governments Summit in Dubai and announced a major reform to regulate online social media. The proposed reform has also been officially announced by the Prime Minister’s office but no details have been published yet.
One of the proposed reforms is that social media will be banned for children under sixteen years of age: a move that follows Australia and France. However the other proposed reforms are much more controversial.
CEOs of social media companies will be personally liable for illegal content shared on their platforms. Using algorithms that amplify illegal content will become illegal. In addition, a tracking mechanism will be introduced against online offenders who use hate speech. Spain is also proposing an international coalition to enforce these rules.
The proposals are being considered as the most stringiest form of regulations proposed on social media in Europe, and would potentially create a crisis in free speech similar to the one ongoing in the United Kingdom due to excessive regulation.
Sanchez’s critics are accusing him of stirring a political fight against the far-right for electoral purposes and showmanship – something that the Prime Minister is often accused of. Despite the Premier Sanchez’s concerns about US big tech, he shares none of these concerns about Chinese tech which he is allowing to be used to surveil Spanish citizens. His government was also against a European ban against Huawei. The US government has also cut many intelligence-sharing practices with Spain over the Spanish government’s links with China.
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