Allies of Morena party endorse Telecom law, permitting real-time cell phone geolocation; subsequently, move towards San Lázaro for further proceedings.
Modernizing the Telecom Landscape: A Contentious Journey
In an intense, hours-long debate during the extraordinary session, Mexico's Senate endorsed the revised Telecom and Broadcasting Law by a margin of 71 to 29 votes. This legislation seeks to sweep away the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) and establish the Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ATDT) as the new regulatory authority.
The comprehensive law, featuring 299 articles and 32 transitional provisions, encompasses user and audience rights and aims to foster the efficient growth of Mexico's telecom and broadcasting sectors. It’s designed to uphold the rights enshrined in the Political Constitution of Mexico.
However, the reform has stirred controversy. key points of contention include provisions that permit real-time geolocation of all citizens' cell phones without a warrant, and the potential suspension of radio and television broadcasts based on the argument of rights violations.
Notably, the notorious Article 109, which suggested temporary digital platform blocks, has been removed. Article 209, Section IX, remains, granting the Interior Ministry the power to provisionally halt advertising from foreign governments under specific circumstances, such as ensuring adherence to national legal norms.
A new Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) is planned, a decentralized body under the ATDT with technical and operational autonomy. The CRT's responsibilities include addressing disputes, supervision, and issuing guidelines based on technical criteria and institutional diversity.
The debate sparked heated discussions regarding digital authoritarianism and freedom of expression, with concerns that the law aims to suppress dissent and restrict information exchange.
PRI's Manuel Anorve Bános, for instance, argued that the law undermines freedom of expression, intending to impose digital authoritarianism. He remarked that aspects such as control, surveillance, and censorship persist, as the government continues to maintain oversight over TV and radio stations.
Moreno, a PRI senator and party leader, referred to this new legislation as a "censorship law" designed to foster an anti-democratic, dictatorial regime. He maintained that it represents a "Big Brother" approach to controlling citizens' lives, words, and actions.
Equally, PAN senator Ricardo Anaya argued that the law remains a censorship bill, limiting freedom of expression, access to information, and the ability to protect citizens from being spied on and coerced.
On the other hand, the PT's Lizeth Sánchez García supported the reform, viewing it as a significant step towards a more unified, fair, and connected Mexico, reducing digital disparities and safeguarding fundamental rights in the 21st century. She emphasized that the enactment of the law does not impose a single vision and leaves dialogue open.
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- The debate in Mexico's Senate over the Telecom and Broadcasting Law has been contentious, with concerns over the law's potential to infringe on general-news subjects such as freedom of expression, digital authoritarianism, and censorship.
- In the context of the Telecom and Broadcasting Law, the law has been criticized by some as a form of digital authoritarianism, with politicians such as PRI's Manuel Anorve Bános and PAN's Ricardo Anaya arguing that it undermines freedom of expression, access to information, and limits the protection against being spied on and coerced, thus resembling characteristics of crime-and-justice issues.
