Spain Plans Sweeping Social Media Overhaul to Tackle Illegal and Hateful Content

The Spanish government announced major proposals on Tuesday aimed at tightening control over social media platforms by banning access for minors under 16 and holding executives personally accountable for illegal and hateful content on their services.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said at an international summit that the government will introduce legislation next week designed to transform the regulatory landscape for digital platforms. The planned measures reflect growing concern in Spain about the effects of social networks on children’s mental health and the wider social impact of unregulated online content.

Under the proposals, social media companies would be required to implement robust age verification systems to prevent users under 16 from accessing their platforms. The ban is part of a broader effort to protect young people from harmful material and addictive engagement practices that officials describe as a “digital Wild West.”

In addition to age restrictions, Spain aims to change its laws to hold platform executives legally responsible if their services are used to disseminate illicit material or persistent hate speech. Criminal liability would extend to executives who fail to prevent the spread of illegal content or allow algorithmic manipulation that amplifies such material.

Sánchez also highlighted plans to criminalize certain algorithmic practices, including the deliberate amplification of unlawful content, and to create mechanisms to track and quantify hate speech across social networks. Prosecutors would be empowered to investigate potential infractions by major platforms, including large U.S.-based companies.

The prime minister described the legislative push as part of a broader effort to defend what he termed “digital sovereignty” and called on European partners to coordinate cross-border regulatory action. While the proposals have drawn support from some quarters, critics argue they could raise complex legal questions about free expression and the scope of government oversight in digital spaces.