The Spanish Government's project requires digital platforms to implement “real and effective” age verification systems, moving beyond simple formal declarations. A reform of the Penal Code is also planned to hold directors criminally responsible for damages caused and to criminalize the manipulation of algorithms that facilitates the deliberate amplification of illegal content.
“"It is as easy as simulating that you are connecting from another country; with just that, you already bypass the regulation."
The professor of Communication Sciences Studies at the UOC, Ferran Lalueza, warns that the legislation can be easily evaded if it only affects one country or a small number of states, as VPN networks allow users to camouflage their location. Meanwhile, Júlia Bacaria, digital law expert and president of the Digital Law and Artificial Intelligence Section of the Barcelona Bar Association, points to the need for an administration verification platform that guarantees data protection.
“"They download VPNs or use simpler strategies like lying about their age or using a photo of their mother to open the profile."
The precedent set by Australia, a pioneer in this regulation, has already shown “a thousand and one ways” for minors to bypass the prohibition, according to Sociology Doctor Liliana Arroyo. Despite the technical difficulties, experts like Roger Ballescà, from the Official College of Psychology of Catalonia, emphasize the importance of the measure in combating anxiety, depression, and harassment linked to excessive social media use among young people.
