A recent legal reform in the state of Puebla has been met with widespread criticism from various sectors, including journalists, social media users, and business representatives. The modification to the local regulatory framework establishes penalties for issuing statements considered offensive to public officials on digital platforms.
The law, which has been dubbed a “censorship law,” introduces criminal sanctions under the concept of cyberbullying, punishable by prison sentences ranging from 11 months to three years and fines equivalent to several months’ worth of salaries. The move has raised concerns about freedom of expression and the potential impact on public debate.
Governor Alejandro Armenta’s administration presented the initiative last year, but it was met with opposition from various organizations. Despite this, the 62nd Legislature of the State Congress passed the reform in an ordinary public session.
The backlash against the law has been swift, with many questioning its constitutionality and potential chilling effect on free speech. Journalist Chumel Torres, a vocal critic of government censorship, mocked the law on social media, saying that Mexicans should wait for “drug traffickers to make memes” about authorities before they can be put in jail.
Torres’ comment is not unfounded, as journalist Jorge González Valdez faces legal proceedings in Campeche after being accused of inciting hatred and violence against the governor. The case has been criticized as an example of institutional persecution orchestrated by the government.
In a related development, the Campeche government was ordered to pay two million pesos in damages for moral harm suffered by the Director of Social Communication of the state, who was involved in the case against González Valdez. The digital media outlet Tribuna was also ordered to close and banned from journalistic activities for two years.
The “censorship law” has sparked a national debate about freedom of expression and the limits of government intervention in public discourse.
Source: Yahoo News
