Telegram's founder targeted Pedro Sánchez and warned about a surveillance state

Pável Dúrov, founder and CEO of Telegram, issued a direct warning to millions of users in Spain. He targeted Pedro Sánchez and questioned the government's digital policies for moving, according to him, toward a surveillance state.

The message was distributed through an official Telegram channel and added to previous criticism from Elon Musk. Within a few hours, the issue escalated to the center of the political and technological debate.

A massive message that ignited controversy

Dúrov used an in-app notification to warn about the measures promoted by the Spanish executive branch. He described the proposals as a "red alert" for freedom of expression.

The communication surpassed two million views and marked an unprecedented event: a platform issuing a political warning to its own users.

The measures that triggered the backlash

The focus of the conflict lies in two government initiatives. On one hand, the ban on the use of social networks by minors under 16.

On the other hand, the possibility of holding executives criminally liable for platforms' failure to remove illegal content.

Age verification at the center of criticism

Dúrov strongly challenged age verification systems. He asserted that they do not protect minors and that they put anonymity at risk.

According to his position, these tools open the door to mass control of citizens.

The government's response and the ideological clash

From La Moncloa, officials described the message as propaganda from "tech oligarchs". They maintained that the episode demonstrates the need to regulate large platforms.

Experts point to excessive regulation, tax pressure, and bureaucratic obstacles. Over the last few years, thousands of startups have shut down or moved abroad. In 2023 alone, about 2,500 tech companies were lost.