Tech tycoons to be held accountable for poisoning society

Pedro Sánchez demands that social media owners be held accountable for undermining democracy

11249 views 36 reactions 3 comment(s)
Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Social media owners should be held accountable for "poisoning society" and undermining democracy with their algorithms, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Sanchez also said that at the European Council meeting he would propose the abolition of anonymity on social networks, including linking user data to a common EU identity wallet and increasing the transparency of algorithms.

“A small restaurant owner is responsible if their food poisons their guests; social media tycoons should be held accountable if their algorithms poison our society,” he said.

Davos
photo: REUTERS

"Let's take back control. Let's make social media great again," he added, parodying a campaign slogan from US President Donald Trump.

Sanchez stressed that social media has brought many benefits, such as connecting people, but also “huge flaws hidden in the depths of algorithms, like invaders hidden inside Trojan horses.” He said that limits on the length of texts and videos, as well as the lack of fact-checking measures, allow the spread of misinformation on social media platforms. He accused tech moguls of designing their sites to “share and manipulate” society to advance their personal political agendas, replacing “votes with likes.”

Social media algorithms use data and rules to decide what content to show users. Attempts to hold social media companies accountable have been laughable so far, Sanchez said. He cited the largest fine ever imposed on a social media company in the European Union, which amounts to just 0,6% of its annual profits, as an example, and called for tougher penalties. He did not name the company.

Sanchez, one of the few remaining center-left leaders in Europe, has been increasingly vocal in his criticism of social media barons in recent times, calling them a "techno-caste," echoing former US President Joe Biden's comments about the oligarchy and the "techno-industrial complex" that threaten democracy.

“What really limits democracy is the power of the elites,” he said. “It’s the power of those who think that because they’re rich, they’re above the law and can do whatever they want. That, my friends, is exactly why tech billionaires want to destroy democracy.”

Spanish Labor Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz said Tuesday she would withdraw from the social network X, in part due to Elon Musk's behavior during events related to Trump's inauguration.

Musk, who is now an adviser to the Trump administration, has angered many European officials in recent weeks with a series of tirades about the leaders of several countries, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Bonus video: