Spain is to try to tackle online fakery with a law targeting disinformation on digital platforms.
“We citizens have the right to defend ourselves from professional hoaxers,” said Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez, who has long voiced concerns about the threat that fake news poses to democracy.
“For those who dedicate themselves to lying and spreading hoaxes every day, the party is over,” justice minister Félix Bolaños posted on X, ironically a platform awash with disinformation. “We’re making life more difficult for those who dedicate themselves to lies and spreading fake news every day, and, therefore, it is good news for democracy,” Bolaños added.
If passed, the new bill will apply to social media influencers with large followings - 100,000 on a single platform, or 200,000 across multiple sites. They will be required to correct misinformation and could face court action if they fail to comply. These outlets and the platforms that host them must have a mechanism to facilitate citizens’ right to ask that false or inaccurate information that harms them be corrected publicly.
The law would also oblige platforms themselves to have mechanisms in place to handle disinformation complaints. The digital measure is part of the Spanish government’s broader ‘Action Plan for Democracy’ which aims to strengthen transparency, pluralism and the right to information. The objectives are to improve the quality of government information, ensure media plurality and increase the transparency of the legislative branch and the electoral system.