Europe’s governing class has a problem with free speech—especially when that speech comes from conservatives. Nowhere is that clearer than in Spain, where Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has unveiled a government system to monitor political discourse online.
The program is called HODIO. Officially, it tracks “hate speech” and “polarization” using artificial intelligence. In reality, it represents the latest attempt by Europe’s political elites to place public debate under bureaucratic supervision.
And it should concern anyone who cares about free elections and democratic accountability.
According to the Spanish government, HODIO will collect and analyze vast volumes of public social-media posts. AI models will categorize content, measure political conflict, and identify supposedly harmful narratives. The government will then publish reports assessing online discourse and ranking platforms based on problematic speech.
That is extraordinary power for a government already invested in shaping debate.
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