Óscar López, Spain's Minister for Digital Transformation, defended the Spanish government's strategy for regulating artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools on Thursday in Barcelona. Speaking at the first Digital Rights Meeting at the Llotja de Mar, López described executive proposals, such as prohibiting minors' access to social media, as "pure common sense."
According to López, society's adaptation to new digital tools is "not a technological discussion, but a political one of the first magnitude." He advocated for a "model that does not put democracy at risk" with innovations like AI. He acknowledged that, unlike the American laissez-faire approach, the Spanish and European proposals are "not the fastest or the cheapest," but they are the most "reliable."
No 'Techno-Pessimism' in Government Approach
Echoing comments made by Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo on Wednesday, López denied that the Spanish executive is "techno-pessimistic or dystopian" in its handling of AI. He pointed out that Spain has already activated over €30 billion from European funds for various AI-related projects. These include chip and semiconductor factories, along with new university chairs and high-tech training programmes.
However, López also supports certain limits on both technology and its underlying infrastructure, such as data centres. He cited a recent decree designed to "combat the speculation that was occurring" in this area. He highlighted the work of entities like the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and the local technological capacity to attract projects, including European AI factories.
Spain's Role in Future Tech Advances
López stated that Spain will be a central player in the European Union's next technological advancements. In the medium term, the next step is quantum computing, where the BSC will be an essential tool. "Now comes quantum, and stay tuned to your screens because Spain will be a world leader in it," he announced.
This emphasis on regulation and investment shows Spain's dual approach: fostering technological growth while establishing safeguards. The government aims to position the country at the forefront of digital innovation, particularly in areas like quantum computing, while ensuring ethical and democratic principles guide its development.
