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19h ago

Spain Moves to Ban Social Media for Under-16s, Add Criminal Liability for Tech Executives

The proposal advances sweeping age checks with potential criminal penalties, signaling a tougher European approach to platform accountability.

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Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez gives a speech during the World Governments Summit in Dubai on February 3, 2026. Spain will seek to ban social media for under-16s to protect them from harmful content such as pornography and violence, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on February 3, in the latest such move by governments. Australia established a world first in December when it banned young teenagers from some of the world's most popular platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok while France and Portugal have also sought to follow suit. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said platforms would have to deploy effective age verification systems, rejecting simple self-declared checkboxes.
  • The plan would criminalize algorithmic manipulation and the amplification of illegal content, with executives facing liability for failing to remove unlawful or hateful material.
  • The government said measures will start moving through the Council of Ministers next week by amending a bill before parliament, though the coalition lacks a stable majority.
  • Sánchez said Spain is coordinating with five European countries on stricter cross‑border enforcement, as France advances an under‑15 bill and Denmark pursues similar limits.
  • Tech firms warn of circumvention and legal friction; Australia’s rollout prompted mass underage account removals by Meta and a court challenge from Reddit, underscoring enforcement hurdles.