Pedro Sánchez presented HODIO, a system to analyse how hate speech is spread on social networks and to evaluate the impact of algorithms on digital polarisation.
Spain aims to introduce a new tool designed to measure hate speech on digital platforms, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed on Wednesday, an announcement which comes after he presented a bill to protect minors on the internet this year.
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This initiative forms part of a broader governmental strategy aimed at enhancing oversight of social media companies.
During the inauguration in Madrid of the first International Summit against Hate and Digital Harassment, Sánchez announced the launch of HODIO (Huella del Odio y la Polarización) (source in Spanish), a system designed to analyse how hate messages are spread on social networks and to assess the role of algorithms in the amplification of polarising content.
"If hate is already dangerous, social networks have turned it into a weapon of mass polarisation that ends up seeping into everyday life," said the Spanish leader. "The digital environment cannot be a space without rules, today social networks are a failed state," he added.
The tool aims to generate indicators to track the evolution of online hate speech, identify patterns of propagation and better understand how certain platform dynamics contribute to polarisation.
The system will analyse large volumes of public activity on social networks to measure the intensity and reach of hate speech, as well as its evolution over time. According to the Spanish government, the aim is to have data that will enable the design of more effective public policies against digital harassment and to increase pressure on technology platforms to assume greater responsibility.
Brussels warns about the control of social networks
The launch of HODIO is part of a broader strategy by the Spanish government to strengthen internet safety, especially for minors.
In early February, Sánchez announced the intention to ban access to social networks for children under 16, a measure that would oblige platforms to implement stricter age verification systems. The government defends the proposal as a response to the increase in cyberbullying and the exposure of teenagers to harmful content online.
However, the national regulatory push has also generated caution among European institutions. The European Commission has recently warned member states that measures to control social networks should not go beyond the common EU framework, especially that established by the Digital Services Act.
