Spain holds the line on social media and AI rules as US tech lobbying intensifies
May 13, 2026 – 9:05 am
Image by: Ministerio para la Transformación Digital
Spain’s digital transformation minister, Óscar López, stated on Wednesday that Madrid would continue to implement a set of regulations targeting social media platforms and high-risk artificial intelligence systems, despite intense lobbying from American technology companies. He emphasized, "The profit of four tech companies cannot come at the expense of the rights of millions."
In February, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced plans to:
- Ban social media for users under 16 (currently being reviewed by parliament).
- Criminalize algorithm manipulation for amplifying illegal content and hold executives personally liable.
- Curbs on AI deepfakes, setting 16 as the age of consent for image use and banning unauthorized AI-generated likenesses in advertising.
Spain’s regulatory program is part of a broader European initiative. In March, EU lawmakers agreed on amendments to the AI Act including:
- A prohibition on non-consensual intimate deepfakes.
- A delay of the high-risk system deadline to December 2027.
Madrid aims to enforce these regulations through its El Escorial data center as a sovereign cloud and AI platform.
While industry opposition is strong, with US tech companies spending millions on lobbying, Spain remains committed to its legislative timeline. López acknowledged the pressure but expressed confidence in their approach.
Not all of Spain’s proposals have been well-received. The under-16 ban drew criticism from Elon Musk, and child rights groups question the enforceability of some measures. Verification systems robust enough to meet López’s standards remain debated across Europe.
However, there is widespread agreement on the need for regulation. Australia, France, Denmark, and now Spain have all taken steps to govern social media and AI responsibly.