Finance
Spain to launch tool to monitor hate on social media, PM sanchez says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 11, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 11, 2026
Quick Summary
Spain will introduce HODIO (Footprint of Hatred and Polarisation), a new tool to systematically measure hate speech on social media, part of a broader regulatory push including a proposed ban on under‑16s and greater platform accountability.
Spain Unveils New Tool to Track and Measure Hate Speech on Social Media
Spain's Strategy to Combat Hate Speech on Digital Platforms
Introduction of the HODIO Tool
MADRID, March 11 (Reuters) - Spain will launch a tool to measure hate speech on digital platforms as part of a broader strategy to increase oversight of social media companies, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday.
Regulatory Measures for Social Media
The country announced a wider plan last month to regulate social media, including a ban on its use for younger teenagers and measures to hold platform executives accountable for illegal or hateful content hosted on their services.
How HODIO Works
Tracking Hate Speech Online
The new tool, called HODIO — an acronym in Spanish for Footprint of Hatred and Polarisation — will allow the government to systematically track the presence, amplification and impact of hate speech online, Sanchez said.
Addressing Social Divisions
Online hate was causing deep divisions in Spanish society, he said, and it was important to start talking about the "footprint of hate" in the same way society discusses the carbon footprint.
Making Hate Speech Visible
"We want to start talking about the impact of hate. When something is measured, it ceases to be invisible," he said.
Transparency and Public Access
The tool's results will be made public, so that citizens can see "who is blocking this content, who is looking the other way, and who is profiting from it," Sanchez said.
(Reporting by Emma Pinedo; Editing by Charlie Devereux and Pooja Desai)
Key Takeaways
- •HODIO will publicly monitor hate speech reach, amplification, and impact, akin to a “carbon footprint” for online hate, increasing transparency and accountability.
- •Spain’s broader digital safety strategy includes banning social media access for under‑16s and requiring robust age‑verification, plus holding platform executives criminally liable for illegal or hateful content.
- •Recent data underscore the urgency: online hate incidents—e.g. 1,300 daily hate messages—have surged (41% rise over a decade), especially after Musk’s acquisition of X, prompting government action.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spain to launch tool to monitor hate on social media, PM Sanchez says
1What is the new tool Spain is launching to monitor hate speech?
Spain is launching HODIO, a tool designed to track, measure, and publish data on hate speech across digital platforms.
2Why is Spain increasing oversight of social media companies?
Spain aims to address the amplification of hate speech online and ensure accountability for illegal or hateful content.
3How will the results of the hate speech monitoring tool be used?
The results will be made public to show who is blocking, ignoring, or profiting from hateful content online.
4What recent regulations has Spain announced for social media?
Spain recently announced a plan that includes social media bans for younger teens and increased accountability for platform executives.
5What impact does the Spanish government hope to achieve with this initiative?
The government hopes to make the impact of hate speech visible and encourage more responsible behavior on digital platforms.
