Initiative to protect media sovereignty
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that she will send to Congress a proposal to reincorporate into the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law an article that prohibits foreign governments from financing discriminatory messages in Mexican media. During his morning conference, he emphasized that this measure seeks to preserve national autonomy against possible interference.
Background and legal context
The article eliminated in 2014 – during the government of Enrique Peña Nieto – established: “Broadcasting concessionaires will not be able to transmit political, ideological or commercial propaganda from foreign entities that influence internal affairs.” The decision to revive it arises after complaints from Conapred about a spot by US Secretary of Security Kristi Noem, considered discriminatory.
Sheinbaum ordered an investigation into the reasons for its elimination, emphasizing that the original rule “protected constitutional values” such as non-discrimination (article 1) and national unity (articles 223 and 256 of the LFTR). He stressed that tourism or cultural promotion is different from paid messages that violate human rights.
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