Spanish PM Sanchez announces ban on social media for under-16s, requiring robust age verification and holding tech CEOs criminally liable for harmful content.
DUBAI: Spain will seek to ban social media access for all minors under the age of 16.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the measure at a summit, stating it aims to protect children from harmful content like pornography, violence, and addiction.
“Spain will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16,” Sanchez said.
“Platforms will be required to implement effective age verification systems, not just checkboxes, but real barriers that work.”
He described the current online space as one of “addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation, violence” that children were never meant to navigate alone.
The Socialist leader also pledged to change Spanish law to impose criminal liability on tech platform chief executives who fail to remove illegal or hateful content.
Sanchez first proposed the idea in November but detailed a package of five measures to be approved starting next week.
His coalition government, however, lacks a parliamentary majority and often struggles to pass legislation.
Spain joins a growing international movement to regulate minors’ social media access.
Australia established a world-first ban in December, prohibiting young teenagers from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
France and Portugal have also sought similar restrictions, while Spain is leading a push with Denmark, Greece, and France for EU-wide action.
