Mexico Issues Presidential Decree Mandating Algorithmic Protections for Minors

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has signed a decree requiring digital platforms to implement measures protecting children from adult content, according to reporting from Engadget. The mandate applies to any platform allowing users to create, distribute, or share content, specifically outlawing minor access to material involving sexual abuse, explicit sexual content, hate speech, violent extremism, cyberbullying, harassment, school violence, eating disorders, self-harm, suicide, and unlawful conduct.

Under the decree, platforms are required to provide parental supervision tools, age classifications for content, and enhanced privacy and safety settings for younger users. Companies must also identify and remove accounts promoting violence. To ensure state oversight, platforms must preserve evidence, alert authorities regarding life-threatening content, and maintain a point of contact available 24/7 for investigating authorities.

Engadget notes that Mexico is unique in implementing these rules via presidential decree rather than through new legislation. While the government stated the measures are obligatory, they will be non-punitive initially. However, the government warned it will pursue further legislation if companies fail to comply. Oversight of these rules will be managed by Mexico's Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ADTT).

Companies are given 30 calendar days to put the new measures into effect. Mexico joins other jurisdictions pursuing digital child protection laws, including China, Europe, Australia, and U.S. states such as Texas, Ohio, Mississippi, and Florida. Engadget highlighted that Australia's attempt to ban social media for those under 16 faced early challenges as minors bypassed age-verification tools.