A sweeping telecommunications reform bill is moving quickly through Mexico’s Senate, backed by President Claudia Sheinbaum and the ruling Morena party. Introduced Wednesday, the bill cleared committee review in under 24 hours and is expected to advance rapidly through the Chamber of Deputies.
The reform was fueled by outrage over U.S. government-funded anti-migrant ads aired on Mexican TV. Sheinbaum called the ads racist and discriminatory and vowed to ban such foreign propaganda. However, the bill goes much further, aiming to overhaul Mexico’s digital landscape by creating a new regulatory body — the Digital Transformation and Telecoms Agency (ATDT) — which would replace the now-defunct Federal Telecoms Institute (IFT).
Supporters argue the bill addresses urgent needs like expanding internet access in underserved rural areas, where nearly half the population lives in poverty. They also emphasize goals like universal broadband coverage, digital equity, and updated public interest policies.
However, critics warn that the legislation could open the door to government censorship. Key concerns focus on provisions allowing authorities to block digital platforms for regulatory violations, although the bill doesn’t specify which authorities would have that power. Sheinbaum has acknowledged the controversy and said the language should be clarified to avoid censorship fears.
Opposition lawmakers argue that the government is using public anger over the U.S. ads to push through broader controls over media and digital content. They claim the bill’s size — 283 articles and 27 provisional laws — and its rapid approval suggest an authoritarian tilt.
Meanwhile, supporters accuse conservative politicians and the telecoms industry of resisting needed reforms to protect their own interests. In the background, the debate over free speech, digital access, and state control continues to intensify.