Mexico: Experts Condemn Censorship Bill, Demand Government Intervention

Mexico: Experts Demand Halt to Censorship Law Mexico City – A proposed telecommunications law in Mexico is facing strong opposition from experts and lawmakers who argue it threatens freedom of speech and media competition. Concerns center on vaguely worded articles that could easily be used for censorship. The initiative, seen as regressive by critics, has prompted calls for its withdrawal and revision. "There are many patches in this reform and many little words that put us in a difficult position," stated Miguel Ángel Monraz, a member of the Chamber of Deputies' Radio and Television Commission. He highlighted the law's potential impact on media freedom and fair competition. Irene Levy, a member of the IFT Advisory Council and Agencia Digital CDMX, pointed to the concerning issue of provisional suspension of sanctions. This, she argued, undermines the fundamental right to the presumption of innocence. María José de Icaza, a digital rights researcher at Article 19, criticized Article 65, which allows for the seizure of the spectrum for reasons of public interest and national security. She noted this ambiguous provision has been used arbitrarily and illegally to censor information. The experts' unified call for the withdrawal of Article 109 of the proposed law underscores the gravity of these concerns. The proposed legislation's potential to curtail freedom of expression has ignited a debate about the balance between government regulation and fundamental rights.