Background on the Key Figures and Relevance
On this Thursday morning, after 10 hours of debate, the Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved the creation of the National System of Investigation and Intelligence in Public Security Matters Law. This law enables the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) to access over a dozen personal and biometric databases, both public and private, for investigative purposes. The initiative stems from a proposal by Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico City, and was supported by Morena, PT, and PVEM parties.
Key Provisions of the New Law
The new law establishes the Central Intelligence Platform, managed by the National Intelligence Center under the SSPC. This platform aims to systematize approximately 22 databases from various social backgrounds, including health, financial, and telephone records. The law outlines the types of data that can be accessed in Article 12:
- Administrative records containing vehicle, plate, biometric, and telephone data
- Public records of property and commerce
- Registers of legal entities
- Tax records
- Firearm registers
- Seized or confiscated firearms
- Commercial registers
- Private security service provider registers
- Detainee and sentenced person registers
- Financial, banking, transportation, health, telecommunications, business, and commercial records
- Maritime records
- Any other relevant data sources for generating intelligence products as per the law
Moreover, the law mandates that public institutions must organize, classify, update, digitize, and automate their information, records, databases, and systems. This ensures that the data can be utilized for investigations and delinquent pursuit when necessary. Private individuals with access to information, records, systems, or other sources deemed significant for gathering clues, evidence, or strengthening investigations must collaborate with the National System’s organs for data transmission, consultation, and supply.
Purpose of the Law
According to the law, the data, information, and intelligence products generated, collected, shared, obtained, or used through the National System and Central Intelligence Platform will be employed via criminal analysis to prevent and pursue crimes, especially those of high impact committed by organized crime groups. It also aims to protect the population’s rights.
“Spy Law” Controversy
During the debate on this bill, deputies from PRI and PAN raised concerns, labeling it the “spy law.” They warned that this legislation would enable the state to monitor citizens without judicial oversight, compromising privacy rights in favor of public peace.
- Emilio Lara Calderón (PRI) expressed concern that this law would create a “Big Brother” state, allowing excessive surveillance and misuse of personal information.
- Miguel Alejandro Alonso Reyes (PRI) stated that these reforms would open doors to political criteria, individual guarantees’ transgression, and pose a significant threat to essential principles like the presumption of innocence and due process.
- María Elena Pérez-Jaén (PAN) emphasized that this law would expose Mexicans’ lives, leading to near-totalitarian control over public and private aspects of citizens’ lives.
- José Guillermo Anaya Llamas (PAN) warned Morena against denying potential misuse of this law for monitoring phones, social media, and private communications to suppress opponents.
Support for the Law
Ricardo Sóstenes Mejía, formerly a subsecretary of security under Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s government, supported the law. He argued that it would equip the SSPC with intelligence tools to pursue criminals effectively, emphasizing the need for interconnected databases and advanced technology to combat crime.
