Spain considers banning social media access for under-16s
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتسابSpain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his government plans to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, framing the move as a safeguard against harmful and illegal online content, including child sexual abuse material and non-consensual sexualised deepfakes.
Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Sánchez criticised major platforms for allowing illegal content to spread and said any restriction must be enforced through robust age-verification systems “beyond simple checkboxes.”
The proposed under-16 ban would be folded into an existing bill focused on minors’ digital protections currently before parliament, with officials indicating changes could be introduced as early as next week. Sánchez also signalled tougher legal steps, including criminalising algorithm manipulation that amplifies illegal content and holding tech executives liable for failing to remove criminal material.
Spain’s announcement follows a wider international push: Australia has moved to implement an under-16 ban, France has advanced restrictions targeting under-15s, and other European governments are considering similar measures.
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Tahani Elghazaly5258 Posts
