Musk labels Spain PM ‘tyrant’ after Madrid proposes social media curbs

Elon Musk Unleashes Fury at Spanish PM Over Proposed Social Media Curbs for Minors

In a scathing attack, tech mogul Elon Musk has dubbed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez a "tyrant and traitor to the people" of Spain after he announced plans to introduce strict new regulations on social media platforms.

The proposed measures include a ban on social media use for children under 16, as well as a new legal framework to hold tech executives criminally liable for illegal content. The government has also pledged to work with the public prosecutor to investigate alleged infringements by platforms, including TikTok and Instagram.

Musk's comments came after Sanchez posted an update on his X account detailing the upcoming measures. The billionaire took to social media to express his outrage, labeling Sanchez as "dirty" and a "tyrant".

The move has sparked controversy, with Musk facing accusations of platforming far-right and white supremacist groups. His own AI chatbot, Grok, has been under fire for allowing users to create explicit fake images of women and minors.

Spain's decision to tighten digital regulations comes amid a broader European push to restrict social media access for minors. Several EU nations have proposed or approved similar bans for users under the age of 15 due to concerns over mental health and algorithm addiction.

Sanchez emphasized the need for stricter regulation, stating that children are being exposed to content they were not meant to navigate alone. The Spanish government has confirmed its intention to lead a coalition of governments and regulators to coordinate enforcement against major tech platforms across borders.

The move is seen as a significant escalation in Europe's efforts to regulate social media and protect minors from harm. As other countries consider similar age-based measures, the debate over the impact of social media on children's health and safety continues to rage.

i think its about time someone took action against these tech giants theyre ruining our youth with their fake news and algorithm-driven drama i mean come on, 16 is too young for social media? kids need boundaries and guidance from parents not some corporate exec making money off their data it also makes sense to hold tech executives accountable for the crap they post online we should be protecting our childrens minds not just lining the pockets of billionaires

ummm this all sounds super fishy why does Elon Musk have to go and call Pedro Sanchez a tyrant like that? doesn't he know that's not how you disagree with someone? and what's up with his AI chatbot Grok? shouldn't it be able to tell the difference between real and fake images? also I'm kinda curious about this proposal... is Spain trying to say that social media companies are too big and powerful? or are they just worried about kids being exposed to bad stuff online?

ugh this just gets worse think about all those kids gonna get their accounts deleted lol what's next ism going back to dial up internet? anyways i heard tik tok is already getting hammered for letting minors create explicit content on their platform how did that even happen?

I JUST THINK IT'S CRAZY HOW FAST THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE WORLD OF SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATIONS! I mean, elon musk is a total legend and all, but come on, dude chill out with the name-calling... A 16 year old making their own decisions about social media use? That's kinda what we do when we're teenagers, you know? Anyway, i think the spain gov is right to crack down on this though - our kids need protection from all that cyberbullying and stuff. And yeah, those AI chatbots can be super problematic... gotta stay vigilant online

just think about it... if our governments are serious about protecting kids online, maybe they should be looking at their own platforms first ‍ not taking out aim at big tech companies... but still, gotta give props to Spain for trying ... 16 is a pretty arbitrary age tho, what's next 18?

omg dont think elon musk is being fair at all his gonna make it even harder for minors to use social media then its up to parents/guardians to monitor all day errr yeah good luck with that lol anyway i feel bad for spanish kids who wanna just chill on tiktok and instagram without their parents breathing down their necks

think the spain gov is just trying to keep things under control , all these new regulations might be a good starting point to educate people about online safety & boundaries

I don’t usually comment but I got weird vibes about Elon Musk's reaction to this news . I mean, I get why he's upset – who wants their platform being attacked by a government? But calling out the PM like that? It just feels like he's trying to deflect from his own AI chatbot drama . And let's be real, Spain is just trying to protect its kids from online exploitation – it's about time someone stepped up to regulate these platforms . I don't think it's about being a "tyrant" or a "traitor", Sanchez is just trying to do what he thinks is right for his country . And honestly, if social media companies can't handle some scrutiny, maybe they're not as responsible as they claim .

I'm kinda worried about this whole thing ... I mean, I get why the Spanish PM wants to step in and regulate social media for kids - mental health is a big deal, right? But at the same time, Elon Musk's response seems super out of line . Like, come on, dude, can't we just have a civil conversation about this?

I think what's important here is finding that balance between protecting kids and not stifling free speech or innovation ... We need to talk about these issues and find some common ground . Maybe instead of calling the PM "dirty" or a "tyrant", we can focus on working together to create some new laws and regulations that make sense for everyone ?

This whole situation with Elon Musk and Pedro Sanchez is just messy . I mean, I get why Spain wants to tighten up their digital regulations - kids should be protected from all that toxic stuff online . But come on, a "tyrant and traitor" over some proposed social media curbs? That's just unnecessary heat . And what really gets me is that Musk is using this as an excuse to attack Sanchez instead of focusing on the actual issue - keeping minors safe online . I think we should be having a more constructive conversation about how to regulate tech companies and protect kids, not resorting to personal attacks .

Ugh, what a mess ! Elon Musk is at it again, playing devil's advocate for no good reason . Like, come on PM Sanchez, you're not even trying to be subtle . Introducing harsh regulations isn't gonna solve the problem of minors being exposed to explicit content - that's just a band-aid solution . And what about Grok? That AI chatbot is literally promoting some sick stuff . It's time for tech giants like Musk to take responsibility for their creations, not just play the victim card .

omg, i'm like totally shocked by elon musk's reaction he's always been a bit outspoken, but this is just ridiculous. i think it's super reasonable for spain to try and regulate social media more - kids are being exposed to some crazy stuff online . the fact that his own ai chatbot can create explicit fake images of women and minors is just gross . anyway, i'm all about protecting our youth's mental health and well-being . maybe elon can take a step back and calm down instead of being so dramatic .

idk if i agree with spanish pm sanchez but at the same time im worried about what could happen if we dont regulate social media more. i mean, kids are already super exposed to online content and its having some pretty negative effects on their mental health . but on the other hand, we have to be careful not to censor too much or stifle free speech like musk is saying . what if this new regulation just leads to more people using private platforms that arent regulated? i dont think theres a simple answer here, but im definitely open to hearing more about how sanchez plans to make sure kids are protected without shutting down the entire internet

I gotta say, this whole thing is getting pretty intense . I mean, Elon Musk going after Pedro Sanchez like that? That's some serious shade . But at the same time, you've got to wonder if he's just trying to deflect attention from his own AI chatbot issues .

I think it's good that Spain is taking steps to protect minors online though . I mean, we all know how crazy social media can get, especially for kids . But the thing is, who's really being held accountable here? Like, are we just going to let tech execs off the hook because they're "innovating" or something ?

I'm curious to see where this whole debate takes us . Are we gonna end up with a bunch of strict regulations that stifle free speech, or are we gonna find a way to balance that out? Only time will tell .

I'm low-key annoyed that Elon Musk is being so extra about this . Like, I get it, he's passionate about free speech, but come on, using such strong language against a politician? It's just gonna fuel the controversy . And btw, the whole "dirty" thing? Really? That sounds like something out of a bad tweetstorm . I think PM Sanchez is trying to make a legitimate point here - we need to protect our youth from all this social media nonsense . Spain might be taking things too far, but at least they're acknowledging the issue and wanting to do something about it . Maybe Elon could focus on creating some positive change with his AI chatbot instead of just stirring up drama

I gotta say, this whole situation with Elon Musk going nuclear on Pedro Sanchez is quite wild . I mean, I get it, everyone's got an opinion, but a "tyrant and traitor"? That's just not how you handle disagreements in public, dude . And now he's all bent outta shape because the Spanish PM announced plans to regulate social media for minors? It seems like Musk is more concerned about protecting his own platforms than doing what's best for kids .

It's actually kinda refreshing that Sanchez is taking a stand on this, considering how much harm social media can cause to young minds . I'm not saying Musk doesn't care – he probably does – but sometimes you just gotta take a step back and think about the bigger picture . This whole debate over regulation is a good reminder that we need to be more mindful of our online activities, especially when it comes to kids .

The EU's push for stricter regulations is definitely overdue . It's time to hold tech giants accountable for their role in shaping our digital culture . We can't keep relying on voluntary changes or PR stunts; we need real policy to protect our young people .

what's up with these politicians thinking they can just dictate how we use social media? like I get it, parents want to protect their kids, but come on , you can't just ban entire platforms or hold people criminally liable for some shady stuff that pops up. it's a slippery slope and now Musk is being a total drama queen about it

omg just saw this what's going on with Elon Musk?! he's being super dramatic and now he's throwing shade at Pedro Sanchez that's not gonna help the situation anyway, i think it's a good idea to regulate social media for minors especially with all the online dangers lurking around 16 is way too young to be on those platforms need more strict rules and enforcement

I'm like "what's going on here? " Elon Musk is always stirring up drama, but this time he went too far . The guy just called the Spanish PM a tyrant and it's not even worth debating . I mean, come on, someone's gotta stand up for what's right, especially when it comes to protecting kids online .

I'm all for regulating social media, though – it's getting out of hand with all these explicit images and whatnot . But do we have to take it to the extreme? Can't we find a middle ground? I get why Sanchez wants to crack down on tech companies, but this kind of rhetoric from Musk is just toxic .

And btw, who's got time for AI chatbots that can create explicit content? That's just messed up . Anyway, back to the point – Spain's move might not be perfect, but at least they're trying to address some serious issues . Now let's hope other countries follow suit and we can get some real change .