Spain Urges Neutrality from Social Media Platforms

Spain's government spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, emphasized that social media platforms like X should maintain neutrality and refrain from interfering in the political affairs of other nations. This statement follows comments from Elon Musk regarding crime statistics in Catalonia, where a report indicated that 91% of rape convictions involved non-Spanish citizens. Leaders like Catalonia's Socialist regional leader Salvador Illa and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized the use of such statistics to promote divisive narratives, asserting that immigration does not significantly impact crime rates. The controversy has sparked discussions about the role of social media in political discourse, particularly after Musk's comments drew attention from European leaders. The European Commission also highlighted that X must conform to the EU's Digital Services Act to ensure electoral integrity. Overall, these developments raise significant concerns about the influence of tech platforms on democracy and public opinion.