Mexican Senate approves reforms targeting misuse of official identity

The Mexican Senate has approved reforms to the Federal Penal Code and the Federal Law for the Protection of Industrial Property, a move popularly dubbed the ‘Ley Antimemes’. The legislation aims to combat piracy and fraud by penalizing the unauthorized commercial use of official institutional graphics, electronic domains, or official documents.

Under the approved text, individuals who use such elements at a commercial scale to induce error or commit an illicit act face one to five years in prison and significant fines. President Claudia Sheinbaum has stated the measure is intended to protect intellectual property in digital environments rather than target political satire. Additionally, the reform includes provisions to hold internet service providers accountable if they fail to remove content altered by artificial intelligence without authorization, with potential fines reaching over 4.6 million pesos.

Opposition legislators, including members of the PAN, have criticized the reform, warning it could lead to preventive censorship and infringe upon freedom of expression. They argue the wording is broad enough to allow authorities to interpret political memes, caricatures, and satire as criminal acts, potentially chilling critical discourse and journalism.