Profeco warns against racial profiling in retail stores

Mexico’s Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) has issued guidance regarding racial profiling and discriminatory surveillance in retail establishments. According to Profeco, security personnel must base their actions on observable behaviors rather than prejudices related to a person’s skin tone, ethnicity, clothing, or physical appearance.

César Iván Escalante Ruiz, the federal consumer prosecutor, explained that racial profiling occurs when individuals are monitored, interrogated, or treated as suspects based on their identity or appearance instead of objective conduct. This includes unjustified questioning, persistent following, or unwarranted searches of personal belongings.

Data from the 2022 National Survey on Discrimination (ENADIS), conducted by INEGI, indicates that 23.7% of the population in Mexico has experienced some form of discrimination. Specifically, 30.6% of reported incidents were linked to personal appearance and clothing, while 13.1% were related to skin tone. Authorities emphasize that access to commercial goods and services must be conducted with dignity and equality, and consumers are encouraged to report discriminatory practices to Profeco.