Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has opposed the Spanish government's initiative to implement mandatory age verification online. He argues that the new law will lead to state censorship and violate user privacy.
On February 3, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced measures to restrict access to social platforms for individuals under 16.
Social media has become a failed state.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) February 3, 2026
If we want to protect our children there is only one thing we can do: take back control.
Las redes sociales se han convertido en un Estado fallido.
Si queremos proteger a nuestros hijos, solo tenemos una opción: recuperar el control. pic.twitter.com/1MvCNxiLys
Speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Sánchez described the current regulation of social media as a failure. He stated that strict control is necessary to "protect children."
Durov labeled these proposals as dangerous for internet freedom. He believes that under the guise of safety, authorities are turning Spain into a surveillance state. The de-anonymization of users will facilitate mass monitoring and politically motivated censorship.
Other public figures have also criticized the initiative. Elon Musk mocked Sánchez's statement, while journalist Taylor Lorenz called on the community to fight against such laws. Critics are convinced that the aim of these measures is not to protect minors but to suppress dissent and conceal corruption.
It is worth noting that in October 2025, Durov warned about the "imminent demise" of free internet. Later, he announced a decentralized network for AI on TON.