Mexico President Signs Decree for Tech Platforms to Protect Minors

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has signed a decree mandating digital platforms to safeguard children from adult and other harmful content, as announced by the government. This move requires platforms to implement mandatory measures within 30 calendar days. While initial non-compliance will not incur punishment, the government has indicated it will pursue further legislation if companies fail to adhere to the new rules. Mexico's approach is unique in that these rules are being introduced via a presidential decree rather than new legislation.

The decree applies to social media and other platforms that enable users to create, distribute, or share content. It specifically outlaws access by minors to a range of objectionable material, including hate speech, violent extremism, sexual abuse or exploitation, content promoting suicide or self-harm, eating disorders, school violence, harassment, cyberbullying, unlawful conduct, and explicit sexual material. Platforms are now required to identify and remove accounts or content that promote violence.

Further requirements include providing age classifications for content, along with parental supervision and reporting tools, and applying stronger privacy and safety settings for younger users. Platforms must also establish a 24/7 available point of contact with investigating authorities, preserve evidence, and promptly alert authorities when any life-threatening content is identified. Compliance with these new regulations will be overseen by Mexico's Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ADTT).

This initiative places Mexico among several countries and territories, including Australia, Europe, China, Florida, Mississippi, Ohio, and Texas, that have implemented various forms of digital child protection laws. Notably, Mexico had previously considered an eight percent tax on violent video games, a proposal that President Sheinbaum later dropped. Australia's pioneering under-16 social media ban, for instance, experienced early challenges as minors found ways to circumvent age-verification tools.

What to watch: Platform compliance and potential new legislation.

Editor's note: The draft provides a clear, comprehensive summary of the decree, including the specific requirements and the regulatory oversight involved.