FT: Spanish PM says "techno-oligarchs" not above law

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has issued a strong warning to major technology executives, saying that “techno-oligarchs” such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are not above the law or democratic authority, as his government prepares a package of stricter rules targeting social media use among minors.

In an article published in the Financial Times, Sánchez argued that regardless of their wealth and influence, tech billionaires do not control democratic societies.

“My government is fully aware of the complexities such a ban entails. It will not be easy to enforce and there will be attempts to circumvent it. But none of these challenges outweigh our responsibility to protect children, and to show our citizens that techno-oligarchs such as Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg are not above the law or the public interest. Regardless of how rich and powerful these billionaires are, they are not in control. Democracies are," he wrote. 

Sánchez announced plans to introduce measures aimed at restricting minors’ access to social media and reforming platform algorithms, which he said currently promote addictive behaviour, anxiety, and the spread of harmful content. He added that existing safeguards are ineffective and require urgent strengthening.

By Sabina Mammadli