Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has voiced strong objections to Spain's new proposal for online age verification, arguing that it paves the way for a surveillance state under the guise of child protection. Speaking on Wednesday, Durov claimed that the legislation would lead to increased government censorship, invasion of privacy through user de-anonymization, and widespread surveillance.
The initiative, announced by Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, aims to implement age verification measures similar to those in other European countries like the United Kingdom. During his address at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Sánchez emphasized the need to 'take back control' of social media to safeguard children, a sentiment that has spurred significant backlash from privacy advocates and digital rights defenders.
Critics argue that these policies are more about governmental control over online discourse than child protection. One critic, identified as Campari, suggested that the government intends to suppress exposure of its corruption through these measures. Elon Musk also joined the chorus of dissent, mocking Sánchez's approach.
Journalist Taylor Lorenz dismissed the child protection rationale, urging global resistance against age-verification legislation. Meanwhile, Concordium's CEO Boris Bohrer-Bilowitzki highlighted the inefficacy of current age-verification techniques, noting that they often drive users to employ VPNs to bypass restrictions. He suggested adopting blockchain technology to verify identity securely without compromising user privacy.
The debate continues as privacy advocates and technologists seek solutions that balance child safety with the preservation of internet freedoms.