Spain digital governance law moves forward as Congress calls Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to testify on democratic accountability in social media.
Related: German Digital Minister Open to Social Media Ban for Children
In an unprecedented move that underscores Europe’s growing assertiveness in regulating Big Tech, the Spain digital governance law is advancing rapidly—with the Spanish Congress of Deputies summoning global tech titans Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to testify before parliament in January 2026. Breaking with tradition, lawmakers will not suspend legislative activity during the normally quiet post-holiday month, instead using it to hold high-stakes hearings on democratic oversight of digital platforms and media.
The testimonies are part of a broader parliamentary initiative tied to the Draft Law on the Improvement of Democratic Governance in Digital Services and Media Regulation, a bill designed to implement the European Union’s landmark Digital Services Act (DSA) while granting Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) robust new powers to investigate and sanction online platforms.
“This is not about censorship—it’s about accountability,” explained a senior parliamentary source. “When algorithms shape public opinion, spread disinformation, and amplify hate speech, democratic institutions have a duty to intervene.”
The list of summoned witnesses, drawn from official parliamentary records obtained by El Ciudadano, reveals a deeply politicized yet technically ambitious agenda. Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter) and CEO of SpaceX, has been called to appear at the request of the far-right Vox party—a group he has publicly endorsed and aligned with ideologically. Musk has previously praised Vox leader Santiago Abascal and expressed support for other European right-wing figures, including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Germany’s AfD.
Conversely, Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), was requested by the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), reflecting progressive concerns about data privacy, election interference, and platform-driven polarization.
Read the European Commission’s official guidance on the Digital Services Act (DSA)
Beyond these headline names, the witness list is extensive: it includes executives from Google, TikTok, Instagram, as well as leaders from Spanish digital real estate platforms like Idealista and Fotocasa—the latter summoned at the request of the left-wing Sumar coalition. The hearings will also feature testimony from Spain’s newly created Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA), Catalonia’s competition and data protection authorities, and nearly a dozen legal and academic experts in digital rights.
Spain Digital Governance Law: Reclaiming Democratic Control Over the Digital Public Sphere
At its core, the Spain digital governance law seeks to address a fundamental paradox of the 21st century: private corporations now wield more influence over public discourse than many elected governments. Social media platforms curate news feeds, moderate content, ban users, and deploy AI-driven recommendation systems—all with minimal transparency or democratic oversight.
The proposed law aims to change that by designating the CNMC as Spain’s national coordinator under the DSA, empowering it to:
- Investigate systemic risks on large online platforms,
- Demand algorithmic transparency,
- Impose fines of up to 6% of global annual revenue for non-compliance,
- Order the removal of illegal content, and
- Require risk assessments for AI systems used in content moderation.
Two weeks before the Musk-Zuckerberg summonses, the CNMC’s president, Cani Fernández, and Narseo Vallina, a leading researcher at IMDEA Networks, already testified before the Economic Affairs Committee, laying the technical groundwork for the upcoming hearings.
Explore Spain’s draft law and regulatory framework via the Ministry of Economic Affairs
Critically, the law does not seek to stifle innovation or free expression. Instead, it frames digital governance as a democratic necessity—arguing that just as traditional media are subject to journalistic ethics and regulatory standards, so too must dominant online platforms be held to account when they function as de facto public squares.
The timing is significant. With European elections looming in 2027 and disinformation campaigns already surging, Spain’s initiative aligns with broader EU efforts to safeguard electoral integrity and counter foreign interference. The DSA, which entered full enforcement in 2024, requires Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs)—including X, Meta, and TikTok—to mitigate systemic risks related to elections, public health, and civic discourse.
Geopolitical Context: Europe’s Sovereign Tech Turn
The Spain digital governance law reflects a broader European pivot toward “digital sovereignty”—a strategic effort to reduce dependence on U.S. tech giants and assert regulatory autonomy in the face of escalating U.S.-China tech rivalry.
While Silicon Valley operates under a largely laissez-faire ethos, the EU has championed a rights-based digital model rooted in privacy (GDPR), competition (DMA), and democratic accountability (DSA). Spain’s push is part of this continental shift—but it also carries domestic political weight.
The fact that both Vox and PSOE are demanding tech CEO testimonies—albeit for opposing reasons—reveals a rare cross-ideological consensus: Big Tech’s power must be checked. For the left, the concern is corporate overreach and data exploitation; for the right, it’s perceived censorship and ideological bias in content moderation.
Review the European Parliament’s resolution on protecting democracy from digital threats
Globally, Spain’s move could inspire similar actions in Latin America and Africa, where social media manipulation has already influenced elections and fueled social unrest. If successful, the Spain digital governance law could become a model for Global South democracies seeking to regulate digital spaces without replicating authoritarian internet controls.
Yet challenges remain. Musk, known for his defiance of regulators, may refuse to appear—just as he has clashed with EU officials over DSA compliance. Zuckerberg, while more conciliatory, has a history of offering vague promises without structural change.
Still, the symbolic power of democratically elected representatives summoning unelected tech oligarchs is immense. It signals that in Europe, at least, the digital realm will no longer operate beyond the law.
As one Spanish lawmaker put it: “Platforms may be global, but democracy is local—and it must be protected.”
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