Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a new approach to regulating digital technologies in the country at the World Government Summit in Dubai, according to information from Kazinform.
He stated that starting next week, on February 10, 2026, the Spanish government will begin developing legislation that may include a ban on the use of social networks for minors under 16 years old.
As part of this initiative, platforms will be required to implement reliable age verification systems. These should not be simple forms, but real security measures, such as ID checks or biometric data. Thus, Spain could become the first European country to completely restrict access to social networks for youth under 16.
Additionally, the Spanish government is initiating an investigation against "Grok" (the AI chatbot from xAI), as well as TikTok and Instagram (Meta). The Prime Minister mentioned these platforms in connection with the distribution of content related to child sexual abuse, created using AI, as well as non-consensual material and other violations.
It is worth noting that similar measures are being discussed in other European countries, such as France, Denmark, and Greece.
However, experts warn that implementing such strict requirements, especially regarding age verification, may face numerous technical, legal, and economic challenges.
