Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has taken the country in a decidedly authoritarian direction, seeking to rein in free speech while claiming to combat disinformation and illegal content.
Sánchez is the leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, who did not win an outright majority but a plurality with which he cobbled together a coalition government. In recent years, his government has been plagued by allegations of corruption within his inner circle, including kickbacks and influence peddling.
This month, Sánchez proposed several policy changes to curtail freedom of discussion and opposition to his government, calling them a move to “reassert democratic control.”
Sánchez is calling for an end to anonymity online and plans to criminalize what he believes is the amplification of illegal content. He also wants to hold social media executives liable for content deemed unlawful.
Of course, all of this depends on your political orientation in determining what is lawful speech and communication, and what is not.
Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, an encrypted messaging service widely used in the crypto-sphere and in regimes that lean dictatorial, has issued a statement warning users in Spain that their country is “turning into a surveillance state.”
Telegram also integrates blockchain and cryptocurrency-related services, mainly with The Open Network (TON) — a decentralized Layer-1 blockchain developed by Durov, which is now independent.
Durov explains the red flags around social media control:
1. Ban on social media for under-16s with mandatory age verification: This isn’t just about kids—it requires platforms to use strict checks, like needing IDs or biometrics.
Danger: It sets a precedent for tracking EVERY user’s identity, eroding anonymity and opening doors to mass data collection. What starts with minors could expand to all, stifling open discourse.
2. Personal and criminal liability for platform executives: If “illegal, hateful, or harmful” content isn’t removed fast enough, bosses face jail.
Danger: This will force over-censorship—platforms will delete anything remotely controversial to avoid risks, silencing political dissent, journalism, and everyday opinions. Your voice could be next if it challenges the status quo.
3. Criminalizing algorithm amplification: Amplifying “harmful” content via algorithms becomes a crime.
Danger: Governments will dictate what you see, burying opposing views and creating echo chambers controlled by the state. Free exploration of ideas? Gone—replaced by curated propaganda.
4. “Hate and polarization footprint” tracking: 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 for suppressing opposition.
These aren’t safeguards; they’re steps toward total control. We’ve seen this playbook before—governments weaponizing “safety” to censor critics. On Telegram, we prioritize your privacy and freedom: strong encryption, no backdoors, and resistance to overreach.
Spain is not alone in allegations of becoming more authoritarian or having fascist tendencies. Other European countries have faced claims of anti-free speech activity, driven by policymakers who are in power and want to remain there.