The communist president Claudia Sheinbaum sent a concerning reform to the Senate to modify the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law. The reform opens the door for the government to have the ability to block digital content without a court order or clear limits.
The Senate committees on Radio, Television and Film; Communications and Transportation, and Legislative Studies approved the proposal with 29 votes in favor from the ruling bloc. Only 5 opposition senators voted against it.
The proposal will be discussed in the Senate Plenary on Monday, April 28. It is expected that the qualified majority of ruling senators will approve it "fast track", without reading, analysis, or consultation forums, just as it happened in the committees.
A dangerous reform for freedom of expression
Although the proposal is presented under the pretext of prohibiting foreign propaganda in Mexican media, it arises from the spot by the United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, against illegal immigration. In practice, it grants the Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency (ATDT) concerning powers.
The agency will be able to block social networks, digital platforms, websites, and even applications. All at the government's discretion. Additionally, it will be able to withdraw radio and television concessions.
Article 109 of the initiative grants the government the power to block and censor platforms without the need for a court order, without checks and balances or clear procedures. In other words, any criticism of the regime, any independent media or uncomfortable news channel, could be censored without explanation or legal justification.
The government seeks to decide what you can see
Alejandra Barrales, senator of Movimiento Ciudadano, also warned that this project is, in every sense, an attempt at censorship.
"It is the same Agency that will issue the guidelines. At the same time, decide which platforms to block"
The leader of the PAN in the Senate, Ricardo Anaya, stated that the ruling bloc senators of the committees didn't even read the reform. They approved it without any seriousness:
"This session is cynicism at its highest expression. This 226-page report with 283 articles was published yesterday at 10 p.m. They haven't even read it"
Additionally, he pointed out that this report represents the Mexican version of tactics used by authoritarian regimes. First, they identify a real problem. Then, they alter the information to confuse public opinion. Finally, they use that confusion to introduce a hidden agenda.
