Telegram founder spreads a message to Spanish users against Pedro Sánchez

Madrid.- The founder and CEO of the messaging application Telegram, Pável Dúrov, has released a message this Wednesday to all Spanish users through the application’s official channel in which he has shown his disagreement with Pedro Sánchez’s recent announcement to restrict social networks to those under 16 years of age.

In the message, which reached the mobile phones of Spanish users around 6 p.m., the Russian businessman has criticized these restrictions which, according to him, «threaten your freedoms on the internet».

Durov’s statement is based on a text in which he outlines four “red flag signals for freedom of expression and privacy,” explaining the dangers that each one entails.

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The Founder of Telegram: Doors Open to Massive Data Collection

Firstly, the application’s founder has warned that the ban on social media for those under 16 “sets a precedent for tracking the identity of each user, eroding anonymity and opening doors to massive data collection.” Also, he has defended “personal and criminal responsibility for platform executives,” who – according to him – will be forced into “over-censorship.” Finally, the Russian entrepreneur has criticized that, with this measure, “governments will dictate what you see, burying opposing opinions and creating state-controlled echo chambers,” while at the same time “vague definitions of hate” will be created, which will constitute “a tool to suppress the opposition.” “Stay vigilant, Spain. Demand transparency and fight for your rights. Share this widely – before it’s too late,” Durov concluded.

Remove illicit content from social media

Pedro Sánchez announced this Tuesday a package of five measures including the prohibition of social media for those under 16 years of age and a warning to the managers of digital platforms about criminal liability if they did not remove illegal content from their networks. So far, other platforms such as Tik Tok or Meta, questioned by EFE, have not commented on the measures to protect digital environments advanced by the president. On the other hand, Durov’s message comes just hours after the exchange of accusations between Pedro Sánchez and the global magnate, Elon Musk, in which the founder of Tesla and current owner of the social network X called the President of the Government “the true totalitarian fascist”. Pavel Durov, founder of the social network VK and co-founder, along with his brother Nikolai Durov, of the messaging app Telegram, was charged in August 2024 by the French Justice for twelve crimes, including “money laundering of crimes or crimes committed by an organized gang”.

Sánchez: Let the techno-oligarchs bark, Sancho, it’s a sign we are riding

Sánchez has responded to Durov: “Let the techno-oligarchs bark, Sancho, it’s a sign that we ride.” According to sources from Moncloa, in his writing Durov pours out several lies and illegitimate attacks against the Government; it is the first time this has happened in the history of our country, they say.

This fact alone demonstrates the urgent need to regulate social media and mobile messaging applications. “We Spaniards cannot live in a world where foreign techno-oligarchs can flood our phones with propaganda at will just because the Government has announced measures to protect minors and make them comply with the law,” the same sources point out.

These recall that the problems on social media are not an invention of the Government, but a widespread concern of the citizenry.

Óscar Puente: «A good day to uninstall Telegram»

The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, has been the first member of the Government to react to the message spread against Sánchez by Durov. “Today is a good day to uninstall Telegram from my phone. It was never of great use to me. So the loss is small, if not null,” the minister wrote on his X account.

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Puente has concluded this brief message with ‘пока Pavel’ (‘Goodbye Pavel’), written in Russian, the country of origin of the founder of Telegram.

Díaz to Telegram’s owner: the Government is going to “break digital monopolies”

The second vice president and leader of Sumar in the coalition government, Yolanda Díaz, warned this Wednesday the founder and CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, that he will not succeed in “toppling” the Executive after his criticisms and assured that they are going to “break digital monopolies”. «They are not going to bring us down. We are going to break the digital monopolies and give technology back to the working people. Power belongs to the people, not them,» Díaz wrote on his Bluesky social media account in response to Durov’s message. The message from Durov comes a few hours after the exchange of accusations between Sánchez and the founder of Tesla and current owner of the social network X, Elon Musk, who accused the President of the Government of being «the real totalitarian fascist».