Spain’s PM Proposes Mandatory Digital ID for Social Media Users at Davos

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has proposed sweeping changes to social media regulations, including mandatory digital identification requirements and an end to anonymous accounts. The proposal was presented during Sanchez’s special address at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos this week, marking a significant expansion of the European Union’s digital identity framework.

The comprehensive proposal calls for social media platforms to link all user accounts to a European digital identity wallet, the system currently being developed to provide EU citizens with secure, cross-border access to public and private services. Sanchez drew parallels to existing identification requirements, stating, “In our countries, no one can walk the streets with a mask on their face or drive a car without a license plate. No one can send packages without showing an ID or buy a hunting weapon without giving their name, and yet we are allowing people to roam freely on social networks without linking their profiles to a real identity.”

Under the proposed framework, social media companies would be required to make their algorithmic systems more transparent, building upon existing EU digital regulations including the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. The measure would mandate that platforms demonstrate compliance with content moderation and fact-checking requirements. Additionally, the proposal includes provisions for holding social media CEOs personally accountable for their platforms’ compliance with laws and regulations, similar to measures recently implemented in other jurisdictions like Australia’s Digital ID Act 2024.

Sanchez elaborated on the reasoning behind the proposal, explaining, “In a democracy, citizens have the right to privacy — not to anonymity or impunity — because with those two social coexistence would be impossible.” He advocated for implementing pseudonymity as the standard operating principle for social media platforms, allowing users to maintain public-facing usernames while their real identities are verified and stored securely.

The proposal has generated discussion among technology policy experts, with some researchers noting potential implications for user privacy and platform operations. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about data security and surveillance risks, while supporters argue the measure could help combat disinformation and online abuse.

Sources: The Sociable, France 24, IAPP

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January 23, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team