Spain's premier labels social media ‘failed state,’ calls for urgent regulation

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday described social media platforms as a “failed state,” and warned of growing risks to young people, mental health and democratic systems.

“There are no rules, and the rules that apply in the physical world are not applied in the digital world,” Sanchez said at a joint press conference with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Barcelona.

Sanchez said the lack of regulation is a source of concern not only for parents but also for young people themselves.

“If we accept this, we have to move quickly, because we are already late,” he said, urging action at national, regional and multilateral levels.

He cited a major study conducted in Santiago de Compostela showing that the average age of first exposure to pornography in Spain is 11, arguing that such content is often pushed onto minors by platforms rather than actively sought out.

“This undermines everything we are doing offline to promote equality between men and women,” he said.

Sanchez said Spain is working on legislation to prohibit the use of social media for children under 16 and evaluating changes to the penal code to hold platforms legally accountable.

“If they do not remove harmful content -- whether disinformation or violent material -- and instead promote it with algorithms, they must assume legal responsibility,” he said.

On Thursday, 14 European Union member states met to discuss establishing common standards to better protect young users online, he added.

Sanchez said the issue will also be addressed at a gathering of progressive leaders in Barcelona this weekend, where discussions will in part focus on the impact of digital platforms on democracy and society.

“Technology is political -- it is an instrument of power,” he said. “This is what we are seeing -- tech oligarchs taking advantage of society’s naivety around the supposed promise of social media to turn it into a political tool for their own benefit.”

Lula echoed concerns about online risks, particularly for young people.

“If there is no guidance, parents may share photos of their children, and criminals can take those images and do whatever they want with them,” he said.

He added that Brazil has introduced digital legislation aimed at protecting minors and stressed the need to treat online crimes with the same seriousness as those committed offline.

Lula also raised concerns about issues such as online gambling and the broader impact of digital platforms on society.