Morena approves controversial Telecommunications Law; accusations of attempted censorship

With the support of Morena and its allies, the Senate took a firm step toward new regulations for the country's media sector. The new Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law , which includes everything from the redemption of concessions to sanctions for broadcasting foreign propaganda, was approved in committee and is headed for a vote in the full Senate.

The initiative has sparked a fierce national controversy. While the ruling party defends the text as an instrument to safeguard national security and the public interest , the opposition and various organizations warn that it opens the door to censorship and the control of freedom of expression .

The approved ruling establishes key measures that could reshape the media landscape in Mexico:

• Redemption of radio and television concessions “when required by the public interest” or for reasons of “national security.”
• Possibility of blocking digital platforms in case of non-compliance with regulations.
• Prohibition of transmitting political, ideological or commercial propaganda of foreign governments .
• Fines of up to 5% of revenue for dealers who violate this provision.
• Creation of the Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency , with the power to modify or recover frequencies and orbital resources.

In the face of growing criticism of the new Telecommunications Law , President Claudia Sheinbaum responded from the National Palace:

"We are against censorship. The Agency will only notify the platforms. It doesn't decide what gets taken down or what stays."

Sheinbaum assured that any ambiguity in the wording will be corrected, although she categorically rejected the idea that the law's objective is to control digital or media content .

From the Chamber of Deputies, the PAN and PRI parties attacked the reform. Elías Lixa , the PAN coordinator, called it a direct threat:

“This government went from blessed social media to shutting it down if it doesn't like it.”

Rubén Moreira , a PRI leader, was even more forceful when comparing it to authoritarian regimes:

"The Agency is fascist in nature, reminiscent of the German Gestapo. It violates freedom of expression, free enterprise, and the right to information."

One of the most controversial measures is the Agency's ability to request the blocking of digital platforms . Although the government claims this would only be done in extreme cases, critics fear this tool could become a way to silence dissenting voices or restrict uncomfortable content.

The most recent precedent: the broadcast of an anti-immigrant spot of foreign origin on Mexican television, which raised alarm among the ruling party and prompted part of the reform.

Proponents of the law argue that it is necessary to protect the country from foreign interference and information manipulation , especially in electoral contexts. However, experts warn that without clear checks and balances, there is a risk that it could be used as a political tool .

The new Telecommunications Law puts Mexico at a crossroads: Is it a legitimate effort to protect the national digital spectrum or the first step toward institutionalized censorship ?

While the ruling party is making steady progress, the opposition and civil society are demanding clarity, vigilance, and dialogue before consolidating one of the most controversial reforms of Sheinbaum's six-year term.

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