JAKARTA - Telegram founder Pavel Durov has warned his users in Spain about new regulatory plans that are considered to threaten internet freedom, privacy, and freedom of expression.
One of the rules of the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, that has been highlighted is the ban on the use of social media for users under the age of 16, which is also accompanied by mandatory age verification.
According to Durov, this rule creates a precedent for tracking the identity of each user, eroding anonymity and paving the way for mass data collection.
"What started for minors can extend to everyone, silencing open discussion," he said in a message sent through his official channel on Telegram.
In addition, he also criticized the rules that could potentially trap the leaders of social media platforms with criminal liability if content deemed "illegal, hateful, or harmful" is not quickly removed.
He assessed that the policy would force digital platforms to implement excessive censorship, by removing anything that is slightly controversial in order to avoid risk.
"Silencing political dissent, journalism, and everyday opinions. Your voice could be the next target if you challenge the status quo," he explained.
In addition, the regulation is also said to include criminalization of content amplification through algorithms, if the content is considered "dangerous".
Durov warned that this move could give the government greater control over what information the public can access.
Another point is the obligation of platforms to track and report "traces of hate and polarization," which he said had a vague definition and could potentially be used to suppress criticism of the government.
"This is not protection, this is a step towards total control. We've seen this pattern before - governments use 'security' as a weapon to censor critics," Durov said.
However, he reiterated his commitment that Telegram will always maintain user privacy through strong encryption, without backdoors, and a rejection of excessive intervention from authorities.
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