Steve Shillito

HOLY CRAP!! Telegram just sent this message to all the users in Spain. The country is on its way to North Korean censorship. ❗️ The government of Pedro Sánchez is promoting new dangerous regulations that threaten your freedoms on the Internet. Announced yesterday, these measures could turn Spain into a surveillance state under the pretext of "protection." Here I explain why they are a red alarm signal for freedom of expression and privacy: 1. Prohibition of social networks for children under 16 years of age with mandatory age verification: This is not just about children - it requires platforms to use strict controls, such as requiring ID or biometrics. ⚠️ Danger: Establish a precedent to track the identity of EACH user, eroding anonymity and opening doors to massive data collection. What begins with minors could be extended to everyone, stifling the open debate. 2. Personal and criminal liability for platform executives: If "illegal, hateful or harmful" content is not quickly removed, those responsible could go to jail. ⚠️ Danger: This will force overcensorship—the platforms will erase anything minimally controversial to avoid risks, silencing political dissent, journalism and everyday opinions. Your voice could be next if you defy the status quo. 3. Criminalization of algorithmic amplification: Amplifying "harmful" content through algorithms becomes a crime. ⚠️ Danger: Governments will dictate what you see, burying opposing opinions and creating state-controlled echo chambers. Free exploration of ideas? Missing—replaced by curated propaganda. 4. Follow-up of the "hateful and polarization": Platforms must monitor and report how they "feed the division." ⚠️ Danger: Vague definitions of "hate" could label criticism of the government as divisive, leading to closures or fines. This can be a tool to suppress the opposition. These are not safeguards; they are steps towards total control. We have seen this script before—governments arming "security" to censor their critics. At Telegram, we prioritize your privacy and freedom: strong encryption, no backdoors and resistance to excess. ✊ Stay vigilant, Spain. Demand transparency and fight for your rights. Share this widely—before it's too late