Durov Warns Spanish Law Threatens Internet Freedoms
Pavel Durov, the co-founder of Telegram, issued a sharp rebuke on Wednesday against the Spanish government's new plan to enforce online age verification. He argued the proposed regulations, announced the previous day, are a direct threat to user privacy and online freedom. Durov claimed the measures would de-anonymize users and enable mass surveillance, effectively turning Spain into a surveillance state.
Pedro Sánchez’s government is pushing dangerous new regulations that threaten your internet freedoms. Announced just yesterday, these measures could turn Spain into a surveillance state under the guise of ‘protection.’
— Pavel Durov, Co-founder of Telegram.
Sánchez's Plan for Under-16 Verification Sparks Backlash
The controversy began on Tuesday when Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the new policy at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. The law would restrict social media platform access for individuals under the age of 16, mirroring similar initiatives in other European nations like the United Kingdom. Sánchez justified the move by stating, "If we want to protect our children, there is only one thing we can do: take back control."
The announcement was met with immediate criticism from privacy advocates and prominent tech figures, including Elon Musk. Critics contend that such laws are less about protecting children and more about granting governments extended powers for censorship and political control. They argue the framework creates a precedent for suppressing dissent under the pretense of safety.
Critics Propose Blockchain as Privacy-Preserving Alternative
Opponents of the Spanish proposal point out that conventional age verification systems are often ineffective. Boris Bohrer-Bilowitzki, CEO of the layer-1 blockchain Concordium, noted that users can easily bypass these controls using tools like virtual private networks (VPNs). This circumvention renders the verification measures moot while still creating invasive data collection systems.
As an alternative, proponents of decentralized technology suggest using blockchain-based identity solutions. Bohrer-Bilowitzki and others argue that blockchain can prove personhood and verify age in a cryptographically secure manner without revealing a user's specific identity details. This approach could satisfy regulatory goals for protecting minors from harmful content without forcing a trade-off with fundamental rights to privacy and free speech.
