Mexico sees surge in lawsuits targeting journalists and media

Journalists in Mexico are facing a surge in legal pressure alongside traditional physical threats. According to the watchdog group Article 19, 69 new lawsuits were filed against journalists and media outlets in 2025, tripling the figures from the previous year.

One prominent case involves the independent newspaper Tribuna in Campeche. After the paper transitioned to an online-only format due to revenue losses, its former editor, Jorge Luis González, faced civil and criminal complaints from Governor Layda Sansores San Román. In mid-2025, a court barred González from journalistic activities for two years and implemented a measure requiring judicial review of the outlet's content before publication, a move critics describe as prior censorship.

While physical violence remains a critical issue—with the Committee to Protect Journalists reporting seven journalist killings in 2026—watchdogs note that politicians are increasingly using the legal system to silence dissent under the guise of legality. Additionally, new federal regulations proposed by President Claudia Sheinbaum aimed at protecting viewer rights have raised concerns that the state may gain more power to intervene in media disputes.