Pedro Sánchez’s ability to surprise both sides of the globe is beyond doubt. In 24 hours managed to focus attention del , and another that does not do badly at the end of the month, Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram.
He Russian billionaire has startled millions of users from the alternative messaging service to WhatsApp in Spain with an extensive and truly apocalyptic message. The reason? The same as Elon Musk’s anger, the one announced by Pedro Sánchez.
For Durov “the government of Pedro Sánchez is promoting new Dangerous regulations that threaten your internet freedoms” and that of course he believes that they go beyond the limitation to children. In fact he believes that “these measures They could turn Spain into a surveillance state under the pretext of ‘protection.'”
The founder of Telegram sees “red flag” signals for both freedom of expression and privacy of users of different networks and messaging services like yours. Thus, it is addressed directly to the Spanish population. “Stay vigilant, Spain. Demand transparency and fight for your rights. Share this widely—before it’s too late,” he concludes.
Durov, who left his native Russia more than a decade ago, believes that what is extracted from the Spanish Government’s decision is a “script” that “we have already seen before” and speaks of “governments weaponizing “security” to censor their critics.” Faced with such a panorama, the founder of Telegram denies that the announced protection for minors are true safeguards, but rather “they are steps towards total control.”
These are Pavel Durov’s ‘warning signs’ and the ‘dangers’ of Pedro Sánchez’s announcement:
- 1. Ban on social media for those under 16 with mandatory age verification: It’s not just about children—requires platforms to use strict controls, such as requiring ID or biometrics.
⚠️ Danger: Sets a precedent for tracking the identity of EVERY user, eroding anonymity and opening doors to mass data collection. What begins with minors could spread to everyone, stifling open debate.
- 2. Personal and criminal liability for platform executives: If “illegal, hateful or harmful” content is not quickly removed, those responsible could go to jail.
⚠️ Danger: This will force over-censorship—the platforms will delete anything minimally controversial to avoid risks, silencing political dissidence, journalism and everyday opinions. Your voice could be next if it challenges the status quo.
- 3. Criminalization of algorithmic amplification: Amplifying “harmful” content through algorithms becomes a crime.
⚠️ Danger: Governments will dictate what you see, burying opposing opinions and creating state-controlled echo chambers. Free exploration of ideas? Gone—replaced by curated propaganda.
- 4. Monitoring the “footprint of hate and polarization”: Platforms must monitor and report how they “fuel division.”
⚠️ Danger: Vague definitions of “hate” could label criticism of the government as divisive, leading to shutdowns or fines. This can be a tool to suppress the opposition.
These are not safeguards; They are steps towards total control. We’ve seen this script before—governments weaponizing “security” to censor their critics. At Telegram, we prioritize your privacy and freedom: strong encryption, no backdoors, and resistance to excess.
✊ Stay vigilant, Spain. Demand transparency and fight for your rights. Share this widely—before it’s too late.
