Mexico passes sweeping reforms to protect digital identity, update family naming and strengthen abuse penalties

The Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved a package of legislative reforms that criminalize digital identity theft, including the malicious use of artificial intelligence to create fraudulent audio, video or image content, with penalties of up to eight years in prison and heavy fines. The reforms also modify the Civil Code to allow parents to choose the order of their children's surnames, defaulting to alphabetical order when there is disagreement. Additionally, the penal code was amended to increase penalties for sexual abuse, especially when the offender holds a position of trust. Together, the measures aim to safeguard citizens against emerging cyber threats, promote gender equality, and modernize family‑law conventions.