The Secretary of State for Youth calls for “constant dialogue” with technology companies to protect minors’ digital rights.

Rubén Pérez Correa closed the first day of the International Meeting on Digital Rights by stressing that “if minors are going to be on social media, today’s platforms are not good enough.”

The first day of the event brought together international leaders in technology, including former Facebook executive Yaël Eisenstat and journalist Cory Doctorow, to discuss the challenges of the current digital landscape.

Minister Óscar López will open the second and final day of the event, which will feature international experts such as Giuliano da Empoli (The Kremlin Wizard), Carl Öhman, and Frances Haugen.

The Secretary of State for Youth and Children, Rubén Pérez Correa, closed the first day of the 1st International Meeting on Digital Rights, held in Barcelona, with a speech in which he stressed the need to establish “constant dialogue with the technology sector to create tools that protect minors’ digital rights.”

In this regard, he emphasized that “a great deal is at stake in defining digital rights and in how we guarantee the protection of minors in this area.” He also argued that “if minors are going to be on social media, today’s platforms are not good enough.” Finally, Pérez Correa recalled that the commitment to regulating digital spaces “does not mean preventing critical thinking or limiting innovation.”

The Secretary of State for Youth and Children closed the first day of the event, organized by the Government of Spain and Mobile World Capital within the framework of the Digital Rights Observatory. The event also featured a video address by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who highlighted Barcelona’s emergence as the “world capital of digital rights.”

The Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, María González Veracruz; the Minister of Economy and Finance of the Government of Catalonia, Alícia Romero; and the Deputy Mayor for Economy, Housing, Finance and Tourism of Barcelona City Council, Jordi Valls, took part in the institutional opening of the event, which brings together some of the world’s most influential voices in technology, ethics, and governance with a key objective: to discuss, in a clear and accessible way, the current challenges involved in creating a fairer, safer, and more responsible digital environment.

Yael Eisenstat, Cory Doctorow y Anu Bradford, the day’s keynote speakers.

During this first day, the main stage at Barcelona’s La Llotja de Mar hosted figures such as Yaël Eisenstat, technology policy expert and former Facebook executive. Eisenstat focused on the impact of algorithms and social media on democracy and disinformation. She also stressed the urgency of regulatory measures requiring greater transparency from major platforms.

The event also featured Cory Doctorow, one of the leading international voices in technology journalism and author of Enshittification, who explored the challenges of the digital rights agenda and the role of major technology companies in shaping today’s world.

“What we now call ‘enshittification’ describes a process in which users become trapped in platforms that, over time, degrade the user experience while intensifying value extraction. In response to this model, we advocate for the creation of an open and transparent internet where people can regain control and trust in the digital environment,” Doctorow explained.

Meanwhile, Anu Bradford, Professor of Law and International Organizations, examined the European Union’s regulatory policies within today’s fragmented geopolitical landscape. Bradford stressed that “in a context of declining freedoms and intense global technological competition, it is essential to pursue a third path based on rights. This is not about choosing between the United States or China, but about promoting a model in which innovation and fundamental rights go hand in hand, with companies, leaders, and active citizens acting as drivers of change.”

In this context, the Professor of Law and International Organizations referred to the “Brussels Effect,” which “reflects the European Union’s ability to shape global standards by requiring compliance with its regulations as a condition for access to one of the world’s largest markets.”

First survey on public perceptions of digital rights.

The event also served as the platform for presenting the results of the first major survey conducted in Spain on public perceptions of digital rights. Based on 2,500 interviews and developed by Fundación La Caixa and Fundación Hermes in collaboration with the University of Barcelona, the study was presented with the participation of María González Veracruz, Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Among its findings, the survey revealed that 69% of citizens believe the protection of digital rights in Spain is insufficient.

Throughout the day, a series of debates took place at the Speaker’s Corner on topics such as the spread of fake news and disinformation in an environment shaped by the rise of AI, as well as the potential of digital technologies to support the ecological transition while taking into account the impact of their environmental footprint. Featured speakers included Tomás de la Quadra-Salcedo, former Minister of Justice and Territorial Administration, and Joan Subirats, Professor of Political Science at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and former Minister of Universities.

Minister Óscar López opens the second day of the event.

The International Meeting on Digital Rights will continue tomorrow with the participation of Óscar López, Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Administration. Together with renowned philosopher Carissa Véliz, he will address the ethical and political challenges posed by the massive use of data in today’s democracies.

Giuliano da Empoli, president of the Volta think tank and author of the bestseller The Kremlin Wizard; Carl Öhman, researcher and specialist in digital legacy; Frances Haugen, data expert and whistleblower behind the so-called “Facebook Papers”; and actress and director Leticia Dolera will be among the featured figures on this second day, which will place special emphasis on the digital protection of children and young people.