Mexico signs decree requiring social platforms to protect minors from harmful content

Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum has signed a decree ordering digital platforms to protect children from accessing harmful content.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has signed a decree requiring social media platforms to remove content that promotes violence, cyberbullying, sexual harassment, and self-harm. The directive stems from recent incidents of school violence in Mexico, where social media was used to spread calls for hate. Before the decree was finalized, the government held negotiations with representatives from Microsoft, Apple, Google, X (formerly Twitter), Huawei, and Meta. The decree obligates digital platforms to implement specific technical and administrative measures, including the immediate removal of accounts and materials that encourage any form of violence. Companies must also introduce age-based content classification systems, mandatory user age verification, and parental control tools. Additionally, platforms are required to develop mechanisms for reporting violent content and set default privacy and security protections for children and adolescents. They must also notify government authorities of any removed materials deemed risky for potential violence. Corporate representatives requested a one-month period to adapt their technologies to these new requirements. Notably, the current decree does not include penalties for non-compliance. President Sheinbaum stated that legislative measures imposing fines would only be considered if the existing enforcement mechanisms prove ineffective.

The move follows a broader global push to protect minors online, with governments in Europe and Australia also tightening oversight of digital platforms.

Joining a global movement, President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a decree requiring the removal of a range of material for people under 18 and held out the prospect of tougher measures.

A new law demands platforms operating in Mexico protect teens from harmful content or face possible punishment.

Mexico will require the digital platforms to protect minors from violent and sexual content.

Starting one month from today, social media sites and online forums will be barred from displaying or recommending content to age-verified minors in Mexico that generates or promotes hate speech, violent extremism, self-harm, eating disorders, cyberbullying and illegal conduct. The post Sheinbaum signs decree blocking violent and hostile content from minors’ social media feeds: Wednesday’s mañanera recapped appeared first on Mexico News Daily