Spain’s Sanchez Calls EU to End Social Media Anonymity

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for increased regulation of social media platforms such as Elon Musk's X, TikTok, and Meta's Facebook and Instagram, citing their negative impacts on democracy and mental health. He proposed a three-point plan aimed at ending user anonymity on social media, which would require pseudonyms to be linked to real identities through a European digital identity wallet. Sánchez argued that this accountability is necessary to combat misinformation, hate speech, and cyber harassment. His proposals also included increased transparency in algorithms, which he likened to the responsibility restaurant owners have for food safety. This approach has sparked controversy, with digital rights groups warning that removing anonymity could suppress freedom of speech. Sánchez's remarks reflect growing concerns among European leaders regarding the influence of social media on societal and democratic structures.