Critics Suggest President Enrique Peña Nieto’s Telecommunications Proposal Attempts to Legislate Censorship

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Article from SourceMex, April 30

In May 2013, the Mexican Congress approved comprehensive reforms to the telecommunications sector with an eye on improving competition in the nation’s broadcast media. The passage of the legislation in 2013, which included some changes to the Constitution, was only the first step. The law cannot fully take effect until Congress approves secondary laws that allow implementation of the reforms, The Peña Nieto administration set the full debate on the secondary laws in motion by sending its 500-page proposal to the Senate at the end of March. While most of the bill was straightforward, a couple of controversial provisions created an uproar from advocates of free speech. One proposal attracted strong negative reactions, since it would allow authorities to block cell phone signals during protests, censor Web sites, and track cell phone communications in the interest of national security. Carlos Navarro Read More

LADB Analysis: The recent proposal for comprehensive reforms to the telecommunications sector in Mexico originally seemed like a balanced and pragmatic solution to increasing competition, the creation of more channels and states, and generating further diversity in customer options. However, a small caveat within the bill is not sitting well with many. One proposal, contained in Article 197, attracted strong negative reactions, since it would allow authorities to block cell phone signals during protests, censor Web sites, and track cell phone communications in the interest of national security. For the Peña Nieto administration, which has pushed a fairly neoliberal agenda, this addition to the telemarketing reforms is a bizarre addendum to what should have simply been reforms that dealt with business practices and market competition. It is unclear whether the inclusion of this proposal was administrative oversight or whether the Peña Nieto administration had hoped to pass it under the radar. -Joe Leestma