Cybercrime in Spain has surged by 32% in the past year. This sharp rise in online crime has prompted Spanish President Pedro Sánchez to announce the creation of a public observatory for digital rights. The new internet watchdog aims to prevent the “digital space from becoming the Wild West,” as Sánchez put it. In recent weeks, the Spanish president has been a vocal advocate for restricting unchecked internet access. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier in January, Sánchez called for banning anonymity on social media, revealing that he plans to bring his proposal to EU countries “soon.” Instead of full anonymity, the Spanish leader proposes allowing citizens to use pseudonyms if they wish but ensuring that, in the event of a crime, public authorities can link these pseudonyms to real identities and hold individuals accountable.

An Internet watchdog to tackle algorithms, anonymity, and tech billionaires

At Davos, Sánchez also announced his intention to “open the black box of algorithms” to assess whether they comply with EU “legal and moral standards.” Additionally, he stressed the need to hold social media CEOs accountable for breaching EU laws and regulations. “If a restaurant owner is responsible for the food they serve to customers, then these tech millionaires must also take responsibility for the actions of their companies,” Sánchez underscored.

Furthermore, he criticized an elite group of tech billionaires for attempting to “seize political power,” arguing that their primary motivation is money. He added that “we must transform the digital environment into a public good for citizens, one that respects our values, which are those of human rights.”

However, Digital Rights Watch has raised concerns about previous similar attempts, such as Australia’s efforts to curb online anonymity, warning that such measures could infringe on users’ human rights. The organization cited a 2015 report to the UN General Assembly by David Kaye, former Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression.

“Strong encryption and anonymity are fundamental to the protection of human rights in the digital age and are critical for individuals facing persecution due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Anonymity has been a crucial tool for women and sexual minorities for self-expression, connection, and mobilization. Its use online supports the most vulnerable groups,” Kaye wrote.

The rise of digital crime: the case for an internet watchdog

Sánchez defends the need for a digital watchdog by highlighting that online crimes already account for a fifth of all crimes committed in Spain. He also noted that cybercrime has grown by 32% in the past year and that a third of social media profiles are bots, which generate nearly half of all internet traffic. Spain’s Digital Rights Charter outlines several key safeguards for the watchdog, including the protection of minors and vulnerable groups, ensuring equal access for individuals with low digital literacy, bridging digital divides, safeguarding online privacy and security, and protecting freedom of expression and the right to information.

The new initiative has a budget of €10.83 million, financed through the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan under the Next Generation EU Funds. Of this amount, 80% is provided by Red.es, a public entity under the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, while the remaining 20% comes from participating entities. A total of 170 public and private entities, along with 260 specialists, will take part in the watchdog’s operations.