Durov Slams Spain’s Age Checks as Privacy and Anonymity Fears Grow Online

The debate over online age verification intensified this week after Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov criticized Spain’s proposal to restrict social media access for users under 16. Spanish officials say the measure is designed to protect children online, but critics argue it could expand government surveillance and erode digital privacy. The plan has drawn particular concern from the public, who warn of broader consequences for anonymous communication online.

Debate Over Age Verification Intensifies After Durov Criticizes Spain’s Plan

Durov publicly challenged the proposal on Wednesday, warning that government-led age checks could lead to censorship and intrusive monitoring. He argued that mandatory verification systems risk stripping users of anonymity and enabling large-scale data collection. Framed as child protection, he said, such policies could instead equip authorities with tools to track online behavior and influence speech.

Spain’s plans were outlined a day earlier by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who said the country intends to follow models already discussed or tested elsewhere in Europe. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Sánchez argued that social media companies have failed to regulate themselves, leaving governments no choice but to intervene. 

He described online platforms as unsafe environments for minors, pointing to exposure to harmful content and manipulation.

Opposition emerged quickly from across the tech and privacy landscape. Critics argue that age verification concentrates power in the hands of governments and large platforms, creating opportunities for political misuse and content suppression. 

Online commentator Campari accused Spanish authorities of targeting critics, while Elon Musk publicly mocked the proposal. Journalist Taylor Lorenz also weighed in, arguing that such laws prioritize control over meaningful child safety.

Concerns have also spread into the blockchain and cryptography space. Boris Bohrer-Bilowitzki, head of the layer-1 blockchain Concordium, said protecting minors is a legitimate goal but warned that existing enforcement methods often backfire. 

Strict verification systems, he noted, tend to push users toward workarounds such as VPNs, which conceal location by routing traffic through foreign servers. As an alternative, he proposed cryptographic “proof of personhood,” which could verify age without exposing personal identity.

Centralized Age Checks Seen as Threat to Privacy, Say Crypto Advocates

Critics identify several risks associated with proposed age verification rules:

• Mandatory identity checks could eliminate online anonymity and tie digital activity to real-world identities.
• Centralized data systems increase the likelihood of breaches or misuse by authorities.
• Rigid controls often encourage circumvention through VPNs, shared accounts, or false credentials.
• Expanded platform liability may incentivize excessive censorship to avoid legal penalties.

Under Spain’s proposal, social media platforms would be required to implement strict age barriers rather than relying on self-declared age checkboxes. Sánchez cited cases in which children bypassed existing safeguards by using adult photos, arguing that stronger enforcement is necessary. The plan could also hold company executives personally liable for illegal or harmful content hosted on their services.

Spain is not alone in considering such measures. Australia enacted the first nationwide ban on social media use for under-16s last year, a decision now being challenged in court by Reddit. 

France, Denmark, and Austria are exploring similar restrictions, while the United Kingdom has launched a public consultation on a possible ban—signaling that the debate over age verification and online freedom is becoming a global policy flashpoint.