Half of Spaniards would support banning the social network X in the European Union if it continues to breach EU rules, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by the campaign coalition People vs Big Tech.
The findings in Spain
- 50% would support banning X in the EU if it does not comply with the law — the highest figure among the countries surveyed.
- 78% want further measures against the platform if breaches are not corrected.
- 64% say protecting privacy and security matters more than relations with the United States.
By party
Support for action against X was highest among voters of Sumar and the PSOE, but a majority of PP and Vox voters also backed sanctions, at around 53% in each case.
In Europe
Across the countries surveyed, including Germany, France, Italy and Poland, around 47% supported a ban and around 70% wanted stronger measures. Supporters of far-right parties were generally less in favour of acting against the platform.
The background
The survey follows a fine of around €120 million imposed on X by the European Commission in December 2025 under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission found that aspects of the platform’s design, including its paid verification system, were misleading and that it fell short on transparency requirements. Other investigations into X’s handling of illegal content and disinformation remain open.
The Digital Services Act requires large platforms to assess and reduce systemic risks, be transparent about advertising and algorithms, and give researchers access to data. Fines can reach 6% of a company’s global turnover.
The reactions
People vs Big Tech argued that X has had every opportunity to comply with the law and that Europeans are tired of warnings without consequences.
X and its owner, Elon Musk, have strongly criticised the EU’s approach, describing it as censorship. The dispute has also become part of wider tensions between the European Union and the US administration, which has opposed European regulation of American tech companies.
What happens next
A ban on a major platform would be an unprecedented step and would face major legal and political obstacles. However, the poll suggests that a significant share of Europeans, and Spaniards in particular, want regulators to take a tougher line.
