Pavel Durov criticizes Spain's proposed social media ban for under-16s, calling it ineffective and harmful to digital freedoms.

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, has publicly criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over a proposed ban on social media use for users under 16, calling the measure overly restrictive and questioning its effectiveness in protecting youth online. Durov argued that such regulations could infringe on digital freedoms and urged policymakers to focus on improving platform safety rather than imposing broad restrictions. The debate highlights growing tensions between tech leaders and governments over youth internet safety and digital rights.