Mexican Judge Grants Provisional Suspension of Mandatory Phone Registration and Biometric Data Requirement

A federal judge in Ciudad Juárez issued a provisional suspension that temporarily exempts a citizen who filed an amparo from the obligation to register his mobile phone line and provide biometric data. The suspension, announced by Movimiento Ciudadano deputy Francisco Sánchez Villegas, applies while the court reviews the case challenging the so‑called “Ley Espía,” which mandates registration of telephone numbers and facial or biometric identification.

The decision has sparked broader debate in Mexico about the government’s telecom policy. Critics argue that the regulatory agency (CRT) has failed to justify why mandatory registration would reduce crime, noting that the phased suspension of unregistered lines—originally slated for June 30, 2026—was postponed and now runs through 2026‑2028 without clear evidence of effectiveness. Observers highlight concerns over privacy, data protection, and the lack of public consultation on the new guidelines, describing the measure as a “today‑no‑you‑connect” approach that threatens millions of users with potential disconnection.

The provisional order affects only the petitioner for now, but it underscores growing legal challenges to the biometric registration framework and may influence future regulatory decisions on telecom security and user privacy in Mexico.