Дуров предупреждает о рисках государственного контроля интернета в Испании Translation: Durov warns of the risks of government internet control in Spain

The founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has voiced his opposition to the Spanish government’s proposal for mandatory age verification on the internet. He believes that the new legislation will lead to state censorship and a violation of user privacy.

On February 3, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced measures aimed at restricting access to social media platforms for individuals under the age of 16.

While speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, he criticized the current regulation of social networks as ineffective, stating that stricter control is essential for «protecting children.»

Durov labeled these proposals as a threat to internet freedom. In his view, under the guise of ensuring safety, the authorities are transforming Spain into a state of total surveillance. The de-anonymization of users would facilitate mass monitoring and politically motivated censorship.

Other public figures have also condemned the initiative. Elon Musk mocked Sánchez’s statement, while journalist Taylor Lorenz urged the community to fight against such laws. Critics are convinced that the true aim of these measures is not the protection of minors, but rather the suppression of dissent and concealment of corruption.

Recall that in October 2025, Durov warned about the «imminent demise» of free internet. Later, he announced a decentralized network for AI on TON.