Recent Incidents Highlighting Restrictions on Free Speech
In recent weeks, there has been a growing concern over freedom of expression in our country. Several incidents have brought this issue to the forefront:
- Jalisco Judge’s Decision: A judge in the state of Jalisco linked to trial members of the musical band “Los Alegres del Barranco” for performing a corrido and displaying an image of “El Mencho.”
- Senator Noroña’s Apology: Senator Noroña demanded an apology from a citizen who verbally attacked him with offensive language in a waiting room.
- Senator Morales’ Proposal: Senator Morales called for penalties, including jail time, against those urging the public to abstain from voting in judicial elections.
- De Mauleón Case: De Mauleón faces censorship from the Tamaulipas Electoral Institute for his actions.
Adding to these concerns, Puebla recently approved the Cybersecurity Law. According to an article in El País, this law criminalizes “cyberbullying,” defined as using information technologies like social media to insult, offend, or harm someone. Penalties include imprisonment for 11 months to 3 years and fines ranging from 50 to 300 days’ worth of the daily value of the Unit of Measurement and Update.
Experts’ Warnings on Potential Misuse of the New Law
Organizations like Article 19 have repeatedly warned about the dangers of enacting laws that aim to address serious issues like online harassment but can easily be misused for censorship. Article 19, along with the Puebla Journalists Network, stated in a joint communication:
“The proposed offenses violate human rights principles and freedom of expression, breach the principle of enumerative specificity in criminal law, and fail to incorporate technical expertise from specialists during their drafting.”
Had experts been consulted, they could have highlighted the severe implications of legislating as proposed by a Morena representative. However, the law was approved without any discussion.
The Erosion of Freedom of Expression and Public Deliberation
With the fragile state of freedom of expression under attack on multiple fronts, it’s concerning that public deliberation is also at risk. As morena and its allies often bypass meaningful debate in local and federal legislatures, democracy without discussion is becoming a reality. Yet, without genuine discussions, there can be no true democracy.
