Spain Bans Social Media for Under-16s, Holds CEOs Liable for Illegal Content

New Social Media Regulations in Spain

• 🇪🇸 Spain is implementing a ban on social media access for individuals under the age of 16, aiming to protect them from the dangers of the "digital wild west."
• 🎯 Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced measures to ensure online safety, stating that children are exposed to addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation, and violence.

Age Verification and Platform Responsibility

• 🔑 Platforms will be required to implement effective and real age verification barriers.
• ⚖️ Company CEOs will face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content.
• 🚫 The new bill will also criminalize algorithmic manipulation and the amplification of illegal content.

Public and International Reaction

• 💬 In Madrid, there was cautious support, with some acknowledging the necessity of the measure for minors' inability to manage social media's complexities.
• 🌍 Australia has already banned social media for under 16s, and countries like France and Britain are considering similar actions.
• 🤝 Spain is joining a coalition of European countries to coordinate and enforce cross-border digital regulation, emphasizing the need to defend digital sovereignty.