Spain's New Law: Safeguarding Children Online

Spain's government proposes a new law to protect children from online threats, including virtual restraining orders, increased age for social media accounts, and health screenings. Justice Minister Félix Bolanos emphasized the urgency, citing a rise in sexual violence linked to the internet. The proposal seeks broad political support.

Spain’s government has introduced a proposed law aimed at protecting children from online threats, featuring measures such as virtual restraining orders for convicts, a higher age limit for social media accounts, and health screenings to detect emotional disorders among teenagers.

“The health, well-being, and security of our children, as well as the tranquility of our families, are at stake,” stated Justice Minister Félix Bolanos in a post-Cabinet press conference. For the proposal to become law, Spain’s left-wing minority government will require support from other political parties.

Public concern is heightening following a series of cases involving sexual violence and abuse linked to internet use. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has identified a burgeoning “authentic pandemic” of online pornography targeting minors, with alarming statistics showing that around 25% of children aged 12 and under, and 50% of those aged 15 and under, have been exposed to online pornography.

The government has already banned cellphones in elementary schools and mandated high schools to justify their educational use. Notably, children in Spain typically receive their first cellphone at age 11. The new bill seeks to amend the criminal code to penalize the sharing of pornographic material with minors and the creation of 'deepfake' images through artificial intelligence, particularly those with sexually abusive content. It also aims to combat 'grooming' activities by sexual predators.

Convicted felons found guilty of using the internet for criminal activities could face virtual restraining orders, limiting their online interactions and banning them from certain online activities. The proposed law would raise the minimum age for social media account creation from 14 to 16 and compel tech companies to implement age verification and parental controls on social media and video-sharing platforms.

Additionally, the law would require teachers to receive training on internet safety education and launch public awareness campaigns addressing the dangers of digital addiction, abuse, and privacy issues.