Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for urgent, international regulation of artificial intelligence, warning that concentration of AI power could be "devastating" for prosperity and democracy. He unveiled a 12-month plan to create "a new social contract for artificial intelligence" with civil society and argued that self-regulation by industry is insufficient. Sánchez also highlighted domestic actions — including a proposed ban on social media for under-16s and requests to prosecutors to probe X, Meta and TikTok over alleged AI-generated child pornography.
Spanish PM: Unregulated AI Could Be 'Devastating' — Spain Proposes 12-Month Plan for Global Oversight
Former employees of major AI companies have recently resigned warning of the technology's risks (Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday urged urgent international regulation of artificial intelligence, warning that unchecked AI concentrated in the hands of a few companies or countries could have "very negative, if not devastating" consequences for prosperity and democracy.
Rising Concerns and Calls for Cooperation
The debate over the risks posed by AI has intensified this month, with industry figures, former employees and policymakers calling for greater cooperation, stronger rules and a slower pace of development. Several former employees of major AI firms have publicly resigned and warned of serious risks — including the possibility of existential threats — prompting renewed scrutiny of how AI is governed.
"If artificial intelligence is concentrated among a few companies and a handful of countries, its impact on shared prosperity, and therefore on the idea of democracy, will be very negative, if not devastating," Sánchez said at an AI-focused event in Madrid. "We must act urgently, because unregulated, opaque artificial intelligence running wild... and in very few hands is the perfect recipe for disaster."
Policy Proposals and Political Context
Sánchez, who has long criticized the influence of large tech firms and their leaders, presented a 12-month plan to draft what he calls "a new social contract for artificial intelligence" in Spain, developed in cooperation with civil society. He argued that self-regulation by industry "does not work" and called for an approach that emphasizes well-being, collective prosperity and fairer societies.
The prime minister also renewed calls for international coordination on AI governance. His comments come amid contrasting views from other world leaders; for instance, US President Donald Trump has publicly downplayed the risk that AI could threaten humanity and has opposed tighter controls on the technology.
Domestic Measures and Investigations
Domestically, Sánchez has pushed other tech-related measures: in February he proposed banning social media use for under-16s — a proposal that sparked public disputes with X owner Elon Musk and Telegram founder Pavel Durov. Separately, the Spanish government has asked prosecutors to investigate X, Meta and TikTok for potential offences related to alleged AI-generated child pornography.
What Comes Next
Spain’s 12-month initiative aims to produce policy recommendations and civic safeguards that can be adopted nationally and shared internationally. Sánchez and supporters say urgent action is needed to ensure that AI supports social and economic well-being rather than concentrates power and undermines democratic institutions.
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