Pavel Durov, Telegram’s co‑founder, warned that Spain’s proposed online age verification rules and a ban on social media for those under 16 risk expanding government censorship, destroying anonymity and enabling mass surveillance. Durov said the measures, announced this week, could turn Spain into a surveillance state under the pretext of “protection.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the country will adopt online age verification policies similar to measures being considered elsewhere in Europe, including the U.K. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Sánchez argued that social media has become a “failed state” and that taking back control is necessary to protect children.
The announcement drew strong criticism from privacy advocates and cypherpunks, who contend the rules would curb free expression and give governments broader powers to remove or block political content. On social media, critics argued the real purpose of age checks is control: one user said the measures target people who expose government corruption, and others, including Elon Musk, mocked Sánchez’s proposal. Journalist Taylor Lorenz urged global resistance to online ID and age‑verification laws.
Some industry figures acknowledge the need to protect minors but say current verification methods are counterproductive. Boris Bohrer‑Bilowitzki, CEO of layer‑1 blockchain Concordium, warned that the checks push users to evade controls using VPNs, which mask IP addresses by routing traffic through remote servers.
The debate highlights a tension between child protection and digital privacy. Supporters of stricter rules say they are necessary to shield minors from harmful content; opponents say the same measures risk de‑anonymizing ordinary users, enabling censorship, and expanding state surveillance powers. Cointelegraph notes its commitment to independent journalism and encourages readers to verify information independently per its editorial policy.
