Elon Musk called Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez a “tyrant” and “traitor” after Spain announced sweeping social media restrictions. Musk posted the comments on X, adding a profane insult and a poop emoji. The remarks came after Sánchez unveiled his five-point plan at the World Government Summit in Dubai.
Sánchez described social media as a “failed state” where disinformation, hate speech, and criminal activity flourish unchecked. His proposals include criminal liability for platform executives, new offenses for algorithmic promotion of illegal content, and mandatory age verification to ban users under 16. He also vowed to investigate platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram for alleged violations.
Read more: Spain moves to block under-16s from social media
The Spanish PM criticized Musk directly, accusing him of amplifying false claims about Spain’s immigration policies. Sánchez said Musk used X to spread disinformation regarding the regularization of 500,000 migrants who contribute to Spain’s economy. “Disinformation doesn’t appear by itself,” Sánchez said, emphasizing platforms profit from amplifying harmful content.
Dirty Sánchez is a tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain 💩 https://t.co/B3oyHrBYpR
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2026
Other measures include creating a “hate and polarization footprint” to track platforms’ role in spreading division and hate. Sánchez warned that governments can no longer ignore toxic content online and stressed Spain’s digital sovereignty must be defended against foreign interference.
Read more: Spain to legalise 500,000 undocumented migrants
The announcement triggered a strong reaction from Musk, highlighting growing tension between global tech executives and governments over regulation. Spain plans to begin implementing the measures next week, signaling a major shift in social media accountability in Europe.